Hyperhidrosis Treatment

Hyperhidrosis is a condition characterised by excessive perspiration. Unlike normal sweating, the excessive sweating characterising hyperhidrosis is not due to a thermoregulatory response. When excessive sweating occurs at one or more distinct body sites it is referred to as focal hyperhidrosis. It is also known as primary or essential hyperhidrosis.
The video demonstrates botulinum toxin injection procedure.
Your specialist will give you further information about this procedure.
You should not use deodorants or antiperspirants for 24 hours before or after the injection.
A starch iodine test may be performed beforehand. This is a special dye that stains the areas of sweating so that they can be targeted, especially if previous injections were ineffective. The area is then marked, the toxin prepared, and then it is injected very superficially in the skin in a matrix.
Sometimes, local anaesthetic cream may be applied beforehand to numb the area. In general, the injection procedure is tolerated quite well. The injections themselves only take about 10-15 minutes to perform per side.
The toxin is covered under the PBS when high dose aluminium preparation has failed or is irritative, and when injected by a medical specialist who is a licensed injector.
Article kindly reviewed by:
Dr Karl Ng MB BS (Hons I) FRCP FRACP CCT Clinical Neurophysiology (UK)
Consultant Neurologist – Sydney North Neurology and Neurophysiology (download referral form and map); Conjoint Senior Lecturer – Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney; and Editorial Advisory Board Member of the Virtual Neuro Centre.
 

More information

For more information about hyperhidrosis, including symptoms, treatments and how to live with the condition, see Hyperhidrosis.