| Botox. For many people, the name conjures up | | | | million patients with various conditions, including |
| images of improbably smooth-skinned celebrities, | | | | spasticity and movement disorders. With FDA |
| desperate for more youthful skin. It has become | | | | approval, the United States joins more than 20 |
| the cosmetic treatment of choice for many of | | | | other countries that have already approved the |
| the rich and famous. But the effects of Botox | | | | use of BOTOX for excessive sweating." |
| are not purely cosmetic. It is becoming | | | | They further report Botox injections to be an |
| increasingly popular in medical circles. Botox is | | | | effective and successful treatment for excessive |
| becoming the answer to issues far more serious | | | | sweating, when antiperspirants have had little or |
| than a few frown lines. | | | | no success. Though there is a degree if |
| One of the most notable new uses of Botox is in | | | | discomfort during the administration, i.e. the |
| treating excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis. In | | | | injections, it appears to be an increasing popular |
| this process, Botox is injected into the local area | | | | and promising treatment. More importantly, |
| (e.g. armpit) where it reacts with the nervous | | | | though, is their assessment that it is safe. |
| system to effectively 'turn off' the body's sweat | | | | However, there is still reasonable cause for |
| glands. For sufferers of excessive sweating, this | | | | concern, or at least caution. The protein from |
| sounds like a miracle cure. But if you are | | | | which Botox is produced is actually highly toxic. |
| considering Botox injections as an answer to your | | | | But given the extent of testing and its increasing |
| excessive sweating problems there are probably | | | | use in the medical world, it would appear that this |
| only two things you want to know: Does it work? | | | | is a managed risk. Since there is the potential for |
| And is it safe? | | | | harm if used incorrectly, it is essential that you |
| Well, firstly, the results of Botox treatments for | | | | seek only reputable medical guidance - if possible |
| hyperhidrosis seem to be good news. In one | | | | a doctor well-trained specifically in the treatment |
| clinical study involving 322 patients with severe | | | | of excessive sweating. (The IHS has a Physician |
| underarm sweating, 81% of the patients receiving | | | | Finder tool on their website to ensure you get |
| botulinum toxin injections achieved a greater than | | | | safest treatment form only reputable doctors.) |
| 50% reduction in sweating. And, 50% of the | | | | It is also worth noting that the treatment is not |
| patients had their excessive sweating relieved for | | | | permanent. Any effects will gradually wear off, so |
| at least 201 days - nearly 7 months aording to | | | | an ongoing programme of treatment will be |
| SweatHelp.org. | | | | necessary (The length of time effects last ranges |
| As for the issue of safety, according to the | | | | from seven to sixteen months.) Obviously, the |
| International Hyperhidrosis Society (one of the | | | | cost implications of this should be considered. |
| more reputable excessive sweating resources), | | | | Ultimately, then, Botox could be a good solution |
| Botox was approved by the US Food & | | | | for those desperately seeking relief from |
| Drug Administration in 2004, as a treatment for | | | | excessive sweating problems. It appears to be |
| underarm hyperhidrosis. The IHS states: "BOTOX | | | | effective and given the increasing medical uses |
| is produced by Allergan, Inc., of Irvine, California, | | | | and government approval, it is regarded as safe. |
| and it is the most studied brand of botulinum toxin | | | | Of course only you can decide it if is right for |
| in the world. BOTOX has been available for over a | | | | you. |
| decade and has been used to treat more than 1 | | | | |