Face 
Hands 
Skin What is hyperhidrosis?
Perspiration serves as the body’s natural mechanism for maintaining temperature balance. However, individuals with hyperhidrosis experience excessive sweating, irrespective of external heat or physical exertion. While primary axillary hyperhidrosis, characterized by excessive underarm sweating, is the most prevalent form, other commonly affected areas include the hands, feet, face, scalp, and various body creases like between the breasts, in the groin area, on the lower back, or buttocks.
What causes excessive sweating?
Hyperhidrosis, as elucidated by the Cleveland Clinic, arises from overactive eccrine glands spread across the body. These glands produce clear, odorless sweat to regulate body temperature, but when overactive, they generate more sweat than necessary. There are two primary types of hyperhidrosis:
- Primary focal hyperhidrosis involves excessive sweating in specific areas such as the armpits, palms (palmar hyperhidrosis), soles of the feet, or sometimes the face. Typically commencing in childhood or adolescence, this condition is characterized by overactive nerves signaling sweat glands, leading to frequent sweating episodes. While primarily hereditary and potentially exacerbated by factors like anxiety or heat, it doesn’t pose a direct danger but can significantly impact confidence, quality of life, and daily activities, and may increase the risk of skin infections.
- Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis entails excessive sweating throughout the entire body and is less common. It often emerges later in life and can be a side effect of medication or triggered by events like pregnancy, menopausal hot flashes, or underlying medical conditions such as lymphoma or tuberculosis.
Botox for excessive sweating
Botox for hyperhidrosis offers an effective solution for managing excessive sweating by temporarily blocking the nerves responsible for activating sweat glands, akin to its muscle-relaxing mechanism. FDA-approved for treating hyperhidrosis in the armpits, Botox demonstrates optimal efficacy in this area. At Direct Aesthetics, we may also administer it off-label in regions like the palms, feet, and face.
Typically, each armpit receives around 50 units of botulinum toxin, while palms or feet may require 100 units each. In areas such as the lower back and buttocks, doses may increase to as many as 200 units. Results typically last between three to six months, with some individuals experiencing effects for up to a year.
