Be Ready for Anything with Treatments That Get Sweat Under Control!
Reflections offers only the most effective way to treat excessive sweating – Botox. In this blog, you’ll learn what causes hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), as well as the treatment options that have been scientifically studied and approved for their effectiveness and safety by the FDA. You’ll also learn about the unique insights we’ve gained in treating this condition for over two decades: which treatments are worth the money and time, and which aren’t.
Excessive, uncontrollable underarm sweating (also called axillary hyperhidrosis) can affect your daily routine, your confidence, and even your love life. If this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. An estimated 8 million Americans suffer from excessive sweating2, and there may be even more, as many people do not report this condition to their doctors because they think there is no treatment that will solve this disruptive problem.
Why Do I Sweat So Much?
Hyperhidrosis happens when you sweat in excess of what your body needs to regulate its temperature. It can be unpredictable and may come on regardless of your mood or the weather. It seems to run in families, and for most people begins during puberty. Most excessive sweating happens in the underarm area, but it can also happen in other places, like the hands, feet, scalp, groin, etc.
The severity of hyperhidrosis is measured on a scale from one to four, based upon how much you feel the condition interferes with your daily life. The levels are as follows:
- Level 1: My sweating is never noticeable and never interferes with my daily activities.
- Level 2: My sweating is tolerable but sometimes interferes with my daily activities.
- Level 3: My sweating is barely tolerable and frequently interferes with my daily activities.
- Level 4: My sweating is intolerable and always interferes with my daily activities.
One third of people with hyperhidrosis define their severity as a level four, saying the condition is intolerable. Both levels three and four are considered to be “severe” cases of hyperhidrosis. If this describes you, our physicians are eager to help.
The Most Effective Treatments Available
Botox injections are the only treatment we currently provide or recommend for hyperhidrosis because it is consistently effective in terms of sweat reduction levels and effectiveness across all patients. Unfortunately, the hyped treatments like Miradry, Ultherapy, and Axilase worked really well in only some patients – and it was very hard to predict which ones – so you’d do this invasive procedure, spend quite a bit of money, and potentially have a result that didn’t last, or even no results whatsoever. We stopped offering those because it felt like a risk we couldn’t ask patients to make, financially or emotionally (we saw how negatively it impacted patients to wait months for a result that never came). We have also treated patients for craniofacial hyperhidrosis (sweating in the hair).
Botox Injections For Hyperhidrosis
Compare Hyperhidrosis Treatments
Botox Injections
In 2004, the FDA approved Botox for use in treating for axillary (underarm) hyperhidrosis.
For many patients, Botox is an excellent option. During treatment, up to 20 small doses of Botox are injected in a grid pattern in the armpit. This comfortable treatment takes just minutes to complete, and the success rate is outstanding. The treatment does a wonderful job of controlling excessive sweating.* Results are usually seen in two to four days and last up to nine months1, at which time the procedure must be repeated.*
MiraDry for Excessive Underarm Sweating
MiraDry is the first and only FDA-cleared device for the treatments of excessive underarm sweating. The process is totally non-invasive and takes about 60 minutes. Results are dramatic and lasting, with clinical studies showing an 82% reduction in sweating3.
However, we’ve stopped offering this treatment because predicting which patients will have great results with Miradry versus those who will not, or for whom the results will not last, is impossible to do well. Should Miradry do a study to help practitioners better select the right patients for this option, we will happily offer it again.
AxiLase 1064 Laser
AxiLase is a one-time laser therapy for excessive underarm sweating that diminishes the number of sweat glands found in the armpit, bringing unmanageable perspiration under control for select patients.* It has been used in Europe for several years, and is now available in the U.S.4. The AxiLase procedure is minimally invasive and takes about one hour. It is performed under Comfort Calm™ local anesthesia, with patients gently awake and comfortably relaxed throughout the procedure. Recovery time is short, and most patients are able to get back to their busy lives after a day or two.*
We have stopped providing this procedure because we were unable to find or create a good set of qualifications that would predict which patients this treatment would reliably create results for, and unfortunately, it’s not everyone.
Ultherapy by Ulthera
Ulthera is a totally non-invasive treatment option that directs micro-focused ultrasound energy, like that used in sonograms, to selectively destroy overactive sweat glands and decrease excessive sweating4. This treatment is presently awaiting FDA clearance, with studies currently underway. As Ulthera is the latest advancement in treating excessive underarm sweating, the duration of its effectiveness has not yet been established, but results seem to be lasting.
Ulthera is a wonderful option for those looking to quickly reduce excessive sweating in a totally noninvasive, non-surgical way. The reduction in sweat that occurs with Ulthera treatment can be seen immediately following the procedure.* With no downtime and fast results, Ulthera for hyperhydrosis is a favorite among busy professionals.
We have stopped offering Ulthera for hyperhidrosis because which patients were ideal candidates for this procedure was never defined scientifically – making it impossible to predict – and for some it did not provide any results. For others, the results faded over time.
Why Choose Reflections For Hyperhidrosis?
Because every patient is unique, the team at Reflections will work closely with you to design the most effective treatment plan possible. Most patients have tried prescription antiperspirants and oral medications by the time they come to us, yet their symptoms persist. However, if you have not tried prescriptions, our physicians can discuss how prescriptions can play a role in your treatment. Our treatments get to the heart of your problem by actually targeting the overactive glands and bringing them under control.
It’s pretty rare these days to have a doctor sit down with you, discuss your concerns with real empathy, explore all of the possible medical causes, and create a plan that also takes into account how you feel, the life you live, your budget, and your cosmetic outcomes. That’s what makes Reflections Center so different.
Change Your Life
We understand that excessive sweating can make it difficult to do the things you want to do. Talk to us about your situation. The award-winning Reflections team will help you put excessive sweating behind you and help you face the world with confidence!
Contact us today at (908) 952-2839 to schedule your consultation for hyperhidrosis treatment!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources:
- GLOGAU, R. G. (1998), Botulinum A Neurotoxin for Axillary Hyperhidrosis No Sweat Botox. Dermatologic Surgery, 24: 817–819. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.1998.tb04257.
- Kami Owen, MSN, FNP-BC; Excessive Sweating: Are Patients Suffering Unnecessarily?; The Journal for Nurse Practitioners; Volume 12, Issue 1, January 2016, Pages 35–40
- Jacob, C. MD; Treatment of Hyperhidrosis with Microwave Technology; Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery; March 2013
- Dee Anna Glaser, MD; Timur A. Galperin, DO; Managing Hyperhidrosis : Emerging Therapies; Dermatologic Clinics; Volume 32, Issue 4, October 2014, Pages 549–553
- BOTOX® Prescribing Information, January 2016.
- Solish N, Bertucci V, Dansereau A, et al. A comprehensive approach to the recognition, diagnosis, and severity-based treatment of focal hyperhidrosis: recommendations of the Canadian Hyperhidrosis Advisory Committee. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33(8):908-923.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Hyperhidrosis: Diagnosis and treatment. AAD website.
- International Hyperhidrosis Society. OnabotulinumtoxinA Injections (BOTOX®). International Hyperhidrosis Society website. Updated 2014.
Dr. Mitchell Chasin
Dr. Mitchell Chasin is a Cosmetic & Laser Physician at Reflections Center. Dr. Chasin believes strongly that the best cosmetic physicians are those who are dedicated to mastering their craft through continuing education and collaboration with the industry’s top doctors.
