Excessive Sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Excessive sweating can be local or widespread. Widespread sweating may occur in diabetes mellitus (diabetes), overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) and cancer patients. On the other hand, regional sweating, which is thought to be related to emotional (emotional) factors, can be seen in the armpits, hands and feet. It is not known exactly why sweat glands work more than normal as a result of nervous stimulation in regional sweating.
Why is treatment needed?
Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is a disease that negatively affects the social and work life of the patient. Underarm sweating can cause wetness and scarring on the clothes and cause unpleasant situations that will embarrass the patient in social environments. On the other hand, irritation of the skin and the formation of a bad odor adversely affect the social life of the patient. In addition, wetting paper-like items due to sweating on the hands and the negativities experienced during the handshake can create difficulties in business life. Therefore, although regional sweating does not threaten my life, it is a disease that significantly impairs the quality of life.
What are the treatment alternatives?
Oral medications (anticholinergic and antidepressant drugs), local use of metal powders, iontophoresis, botox (botulinum toxin A) and surgical approaches can be tried in the treatment. Today, the most effective and easily applied treatment approach in the treatment of excessive regional sweating is botox application.
Botulinum Toxin A (Botox)
It is a toxin obtained from botulinium bacteria, which is responsible for food poisoning. Type A botulinum toxin is used in the treatment of extreme hyperhidrosis.
(BTX-A) How is it applied?
Before the treatment, the area where BTX-A will be applied is determined by the iodine test. If there is sweating in the iodine applied areas, the skin color becomes black. After reconstitution, BTX-A is injected into the skin at intervals not exceeding 2 cm.
Since the application on the hands and feet will be painful, regional anesthesia is performed before the treatment. Since the application under the armpit is more painless, it is sufficient to apply creams containing only lidocaine to the sweating area one hour before the procedure. 2-4 days after the procedure, the antiperspirant effects of BTX-A begin to be evident. Treatment effectiveness continues for 4-6 months.
For this reason, it should be repeated two or three times a year.
What are the side effects?
The side effects of the treatment are very few and usually manifest as weakness in the small muscles at the injection site. Rarely, in other places where the application is not performed, a complaint such as relative sweating may occur.
In what situations is it dangerous?
Botox injection should not be done during pregnancy and lactation, in patients with myasthenia gravis and in those using aminoglycoside antibiotics.
