Excessive Sweating

Quick facts

  • Excessive sweating, or Hyperhidrosis is defined as sweating in excess of the normal needs of the body.
  • BOTOX® Therapy is a highly effective, safe treatment for localized excessive sweating.

What is hyperhidrosis?

Hyperhidrosis is a condition that is characterised by sweating or perspiration in excess of the normal needs of the body. This can be socially crippling, embarrassing, restrict clothing choice and destroy clothes.

Primary Hyperhidrosis is not due to any particular underlying reason, and can be seen as excessive sweating in the palms, feet, underarms, face and/or scalp. There is often a family history of excessive sweating. Sweating usually affects both sides, and is less at night than during the day. Most people with excessive sweating have Primary Hyperhidrosis.

Secondary Hyperhidrosis is a result of an underlying medical condition such as infection, endocrine disorders, metabolic disorders, cancers, neurological conditions, spinal cord injuries, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory disorders, anxiety and stress. The treatment of Secondary Hyperhidrosis requires treatment of the underlying problem or cause.

Primary Hyperhidrosis is thought to affect around 3-10% of the population, ranging in age from teenagers to 50+. Effective treatment of hyperhidrosis can be life-changing for those affected.

What treatments are available?

  • BOTOX® therapy – reduces localized excessive sweating by an average of 83%, bringing your problem sweating back to normal. This simple 10 minute procedure is well tolerated and has no downtime. Results last on average about 6-12 months and can often last longer with repeated treatments - most people plan for treatment about once a year. We presently have a >99% success rate in reducing localized excessive sweating with BOTOX® treatments.
  • Surgery – removing or destroying the sweat glands with surgery can give longer lasting results. Side effects can include scarring, infection, inadequate removal of sweat glands, and increased sweating from other areas. We do not perform this surgery.
  • Chemical Sympathectomy – a chemical is injected some of the nerves at the side of the spinal cord which control sweating. This stops all sweating from your shoulder tip to your rib cage (upper sympathectomy) and/or from your knees down (lower sympathectomy). Side effects can include lung puncture, permanent nerve damage, death and increased sweating from other areas of your body such as a scalp and trunk (worse than with other treatments as a larger area is prevented from sweating). We do not perform this treatment.

To find out if BOTOX® therapy treatment is right for you, contact us for a consultation with one of our Cosmedicine™ doctors on 0800 2BOTOX (Auckland Central) or 0800 COSMED (North Shore City)