Can Botox Help You Sweat Less?
Sweating is natural when you’re hot or under pressure. Are you worried about your upcoming job interview? Your underarms become wet and clingy. In a hot yoga class, keeping a plank posture? The perspiration is flowing down your cheeks. This is normal! However, if you sweat due to no cause and over-the-counter or prescription antiperspirants have failed, that’s why we recommend botox for sweating!
Botox injections for underarm sweating might be worth considering. According to Dr. Sherry Yu, MD, it works in this manner.
Is Botox good for underarm sweating?
Botox, the trade name for botulinum toxin, is an injectable medicine that’s best known for its wrinkle-smoothing abilities. Little do people know, it’s also effective at stopping armpit perspiration by 86 to 87 percent. The majority of dryness after Botox lasts between three and 12 months.
Not only will you sweat less, but you’ll also notice a decrease in body odor. The bacteria that create BO love warm, moist places- by eliminating the moisture, you’re also getting rid of the stink.
Getting underarm Botox does not free you from the obligation to use deodorant or antiperspirant, states Dr. Yu. “Botox injections are meant to limit excessive sweating to a normal or somewhat less-than-normal amount. Most people still sweat a little bit and will require deodorant or antiperspirant. But it’s different from person to person.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Botox for the treatment of excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis). It’s also used to treat other unusually sweaty regions of the body.
Botox injections can be extremely painful and have a higher risk of negative effects if you use them on the following regions:
- Hands
- Feet
- Under the breasts
- Head
- Face
How Botox for sweating works
Botox works by blocking the chemicals that signal it’s time for your glands to produce sweat. It has no effect on touch or sensation in the underarm region.
All you need is one medical visit to get Botox injections for underarm sweating. The treatment usually requires 25 injections in each armpit. Your doctor injects a tiny quantity of Botox just beneath the skin’s surface with a tiny needle at each session.
Dr. Yu states that some people don’t even feel the injections and for those who do, it’s only slightly uncomfortable and feels like a rubber band snap. You should start seeing improvements in sweating within three to four days with full moisture-busting effects happening at around two weeks.
Are there side effects from Botox injections?
If you stop your underarm sweat with Botox, does that also prevent your body from cooling down? Actually, no. Each area of your body that sweats has only a fraction of your total sweat glands, with your underarms containing 2% of them. Therefore, reducing sweating in a few small areas won’t affect your body’s ability to cool down as sweating is not the sole method our bodies use for cooling purposes.
Sweating less in one region of your body might increase sweating in other areas, according to some people. However, this is also not the case. According to Dr. Yu, the only side effect of Botox injections in the armpits is the immediate discomfort felt during injection. Muscle weakness is the most frequent adverse effect, although it’s more of an issue for regions like the palms.
Where can you safely get the injections?
Botox injections may be safely administered by a board-certified dermatologist. Look for a doctor that uses Botox to treat excessive sweating rather than wrinkles only. “You want someone who is familiar with the treatment and any potential negative effects,” says Dr. Yu.
A trip to the dermatologist isn’t only for people looking to get Botox. While a qualified dermatologist does know who shouldn’t receive Botox, (such as those taking particular medications or with underlying conditions), they can also help you with skin care concerns and general tips for overall better skin health.
How much does Botox for underarm sweating cost?
The prices of Botox vary widely. It can cost anything from $100 to $1,000 per unit. Dr. Yu adds that in certain situations, insurance approval may be obtained for Botox injections, although this isn’t true for every patient with every sort of insurance.
For people with a sweating problem, Botox injections are often worth it. After the treatment, you can raise your arms without having to worry about sweat stains on your clothes. You also no longer need to wear more than one shirt a day.
What’s the result? You may go about your day feeling cool, comfy, and self-assured.
If you want to learn about other types of injections, read how long does it take for kybella to work to learn more.