Combat Hyperhidrosis with Botox
Book Review
July 5, 2012 |
|
I have absolutely no hesitation in saying "Stop Sweating and Start Living" will soon put antiperspirant companies out of business.
I was reluctant at first to endorse any product but this book was different. The remedies it suggests are all-natural and target the root causes of problem sweating.
My only complaint is that it is only available as an instant access ebook. It can't be purchased in bookstores or on Amazon.com, but I'm sure the instant download feature is popular with people overseas and those who are ready to get started.
I strongly recommend "Stop Sweating and Start Living" to anyone who sweats excessively in the underarm, hand, foot, face or back areas.
- James Chambers
|
Before I proceed to talk about hyperhidrosis and Botox let’s
get two questions out of the way – what is hyperhidrosis? And
what is Botox? The first is a medical term used to describe
the problem of excessive sweating in certain parts of the body that
afflicts
roughly 3% of the world’s population. Such excessive sweating
can cause both psychological and physical problems leading
to social isolation and emotional trauma. The second is a product
from the
California-based Allergan Inc derived from the clostridium
botulinum type A bacteria which produces a natural toxin that most
commonly
causes food poisoning.
Despite its ominous origins however Botox finds use in a wide
number of medical as well as cosmetic fields. With hyperhidrosis
Botox typically works by blocking the nerve endings of the sympathetic
nervous system that dictates sweat production and thereby controls
excessive sweating. As of now the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
has approved the use of Botox to treat primary axillary hyperhidrosis
or severe underarm sweating. Worldwide about 20 countries approve
the use of Botox in the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.
Botox as a treatment option
Most of those who suffer from the problem of excessive underarm
sweating would swear that conventional remedies like antiperspirants
and oral medication or even surgery have no long-term impact on their
condition and they would probably be right. A big advantage of Botox
is that it provides relief from excessive underarm sweating for at
least six months and even 10 months in some cases. However there
can be certain unpleasant side effects for a minority of those injected
with Botox which I will discuss in detail later on.
In the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis a small dose
(about 15 drops) of Botox is injected into the skin of the underarm
of the patient to prevent the release of a chemical called acetylcholine
which carries signals from the sympathetic nervous system to the
sweat glands in the underarm to stimulate sweat production. The injection
of the Botox as I said earlier simply blocks the nerves in the
underarm that cause excessive sweating and thereby prevents sweating
in that area.
As part of the trial phase prior to its gaining approval from the
FDA 322 patients afflicted by axillary hyperhidrosis were injected
with Botox. Of those 322 81% reported more than a 50% reduction
in sweating. And 50% of the patients reported an alleviation of excessive
underarm sweating for nearly seven months*.
*Source: www.curesweatypalms.org
The procedure of injecting Botox
When used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis Botox injections should
necessarily be administered by a specially trained physician who
is familiar with the procedure. The International Hyperhidrosis Society
(www.curesweatypalms.org) offers a Physician Finder to locate doctors
who are familiar with the use of Botox in treating hyperhidrosis.
Typically Botox injections are administered using a very thin needle
under the skin near the sweat glands in the underarms. A patient
may be given more than one injection if the physician feels the need.
Also a patient will sometimes continue to experience sweating in
the affected area if the initial injections missed a few sweat glands.
In that case a top-up dose of additional injections may be required.
In any event the procedure is virtually painless requires very
little time and may be conducted at the physician’s office
itself.
The flip side of Botox treatment
First of all though used to treat primary axillary hyperhidrosis
botulinum toxin should not be viewed as a cure. It is simply a means
to lessen the discomfort associated with excessive underarm sweating.
Therefore after a certain period which as I have already said
can vary from six to 10 months (longer in exceptional cases) the
symptoms of axillary hyperhidrosis will return and the patient has
to go in to the physician’s office for a repeat dose of Botox.
However Botox treatment by itself causes no permanent damage to
an individual’s system and a patient can go in for as many
doses as required provided the intervals between the doses is strictly
regulated.
Another negative impact of Botox that could affect up to 10% of
patients is the manifestation of influenza-like symptoms such as
fever inflammation of the throat and headache. There have also
been recorded instances of patients reporting anxiety compensatory
sweating (perspiration in areas other than the one injected) neck
and back pain and itching. In rare cases patients report respiratory
trouble after receiving Botox injections for the treatment of excessive
underarm sweating though such instances are truly exceptional and
are more likely to have been caused owing to the patient’s
failure to provide the physician with a comprehensive medical history.
Some people have also reported localized pain mild bruising and
hemorrhage at the place where the injection is administered. However
these symptoms are usually reversible.
Botox is also not recommended for the treatment of pregnant or breastfeeding
women and those who are allergic to drugs that fall under the albumen
group. Additionally sufferers of axillary hyperhidrosis who have
other neurological disorders do not qualify for Botox treatment.
For this reason it is always necessary for a patient to undergo
a detailed physical examination before the Botox injection is administered.
Any negligence in this regard may lead to severe complications that
may cause permanent damage to the system.
Several physicians also warn against the use of patent drugs like
Aspirin or related medication for a stipulated period before and
after the Botox is administered for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.
Common sense also dictates that a safe interval be allowed before
the area in which the injection has been administered is touched
or massaged in any way.
Also and this is very important not all cases of excessive underarm
sweating may be related to axillary hyperhidrosis though that is
most often the case. There may occur instances when a patient suffers
from a thyroid disorder for instance that may cause more than average
sweating. In such cases the treatment will obviously not involve
Botox injections and a wrong diagnosis can have potentially disastrous
consequences.
Watch out for…
….Practitioners of medicine who advertise their services in
curing hyperhidrosis in other parts of the body using Botox. Remember
that Botox has been approved only for the treatment of primary axillary
hyperhidrosis and its efficacy in the treatment of other forms of
hyperhidrosis has not been proved. Therefore do not give such unfounded
claims a second thought.
Insurance cover for Botox treatment
Finally because axillary hyperhidrosis is a medical condition
a patient is eligible to insurance coverage and reimbursement for
physician’s fees and treatment. The best way to search for
such coverage is to log on and browse the Net for reputable companies
that offer such coverage. In addition make sure that your physician
comes under the insurance umbrella and ask him or her to provide
you with references that will help you claim insurance benefits when
you get your axillary hyperhidrosis treated with Botox.
|
|
