Excessive Sweating

Excessive underarm sweating is caused by over-activity of one type of sweat gland, the eccrine gland. This over-activity is thought to be linked to the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates many of the body’s important functions. If you have hyperhidrosis, it may be linked to an underlying condition such as diabetes or an overactive thyroid. Excessive sweating can also be triggered by exercise, stress, anxiety or strong emotions, extreme temperatures, alcohol, tea or coffee, hot or spicy food, or even at certain times of the day. Some people never get to the root cause.

Nerve blocking injections work by temporarily preventing targeted nerves from communicating a message to your sweat glands telling them to produce sweat. It’s important to highlight that these injections are just one potential treatment option for hyperhidrosis.

Nerve blocking injections are most effective for treating hyperhidrosis when used in the underarm area.

When you come into the clinic for this treatment, we will perform a painless starch test to locate the sweat glands – this involves applying a starch-iodine solution to your skin, which will leave a blue-black deposit when it comes into contact with your sweat.

Once we have marked the position of your sweat glands, we will use a micro-needle to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin into the skin of your underarms in approximately 12 to 15 places to stop your eccrine glands from producing sweat.

Dr. Tschoepe will ask you to come in for a second appointment two weeks later to assess and document your results so that the regime can be improved, if necessary.

You should notice that you are sweating less within a few days of your treatment, but it can take 14 to 21 days before you experience the full effects. Most people find they need a top-up treatment every four to six months.

Botulinum toxin was first licensed for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating) by the FDA in 2004 and has built-up a proven safety record since this time. The injections cannot produce permanent damage or travel within the body to make you ill. The product we use attaches to the muscles it is placed in and does not migrate from there; the injection technique ensures that it cannot pass into the bloodstream.

These injections are prescription-only drugs that have to be prescribed by a medical professional, such as a doctor, dentist or nurse prescriber. Prescription-only drugs cannot be advertised, which is why you won’t find brand names on our website or information sheets in the waiting room!

The most common side effects of this treatment are bruising and slight redness at the injection site; some people report a mild headache but these symptoms usually self-correct within 24 hours. Rarely, people have reported nausea, distant muscle tremors or a ‘flu-like’ illness, dry mouth, skin rashes, muscle atrophy, itching or an allergic reaction.

Choosing an experienced practitioner like Dr. Tschoepe who has a proven history of successful treatments is important to minimise the risk of side effects.

You should avoid touching the treated area for three to four hours to reduce the chances of the product accidentally spreading. We will give you detailed aftercare instructions so you know what to do to help support the best outcomes from your treatment.