While most of us can’t wait for sunshine and hot weather, this can also cause discomfort to those suffering from hyperhidrosis. It’s natural for humans to sweat to keep our body temperature down during times when we are active, in warmer environments and sometimes when feeling anxious. In around 1% of the UK population, the sweat glands produce a very high level of sweat over the necessary amount to maintain normal body temperature which causes sweating to happen at unsuitable times – this is known as hyperhidrosis, which means ‘excessive sweating’.
Treating Excessive Sweating:
There are ways that can help to make you appear less sweaty. Avoiding tight clothing and restricting materials such as Nylon can help. Wearing black or white clothing can also help hide sweating – these don’t get rid of the problem. You may find it useful to try a strong antiperspirant to keep your sweating under control. However, this is only a temporary solutions and many sufferers don’t find this very effective.
Botox has been found to be a very effective treatment to reduce sweating. Injections under the arms block the nerve controls and can reduce sweating by up to 95%. This treatment is currently only licenced for the armpits. The treatment is painless and only takes 15 minutes. You will start to feel the benefits straight away, with full effect occurring within 2 weeks and lasting up to 9 months.
Getting Treated on the NHS:
Hyperhidrosis Botox was previously readily available through the NHS by going to see your doctor, however recent budget cuts mean you may be on the dermatologist referral waiting list for quite a while. It really is a postcode lottery now with some healthcare trusts offering treatments and others not. In any case, waiting lists are long and the criteria for people that qualify for treatment is narrowing due to the cost of the treatment. For this reason, many patients are now opting to be treated privately in clinics.
Contact us to book your free consultation and assess your medical suitability for this treatment.