By: Dr. Craig Crippen

Have you ever heard anyone say that “sweating can be good”? For most people, such a statement may seem completely crazy. Does anyone actually enjoy sweating? It makes you wet and sticky, and perhaps, worst of all, smelly! But guess what? We all need to sweat! The function of our sweat glands is to cool the body down. So it’s nothing we should be ashamed of.

However, it would be tougher to tell that to someone who suffers from hyperhidrosis. Also known as “excessive sweating”, this condition causes people to sweat uncontrollably. Believe it or not, hyperhidrosis creates sweat in more than just the expected spots – you know, the underarms and facial areas? It even makes your hands and feet sweat!

There are actually two types of hyperhidrosis. Primary Hyperhidrosis refers to excessive sweating of the feet, hands and armpits.  Meanwhile, Secondary Hyperhidrosis is when you have other medical conditions that may cause you to sweat excessively. Either way, this condition is certainly no laughing matter.

Don’t assume that this is no big deal, either. You may think that sweating doesn’t cause much harm. And, in truth, the physical ramifications of hyperhidrosis don’t create great deals of pain. Often, cold and clammy hands, dehydration and some skin infections may result. The emotional damage, however, is another thing all together.

As hyperhidrosis.org explains it, “affected people are constantly aware of their condition and try to modify their lifestyle to accommodate this problem. This can be disabling in professional, academic and social life, causing daily embarrassments. Many routine tasks become impossible chores, which can psychologically drain these individuals on a constant basis.”

So how does Botox help people with hyperhidrosis? It’s a special type of injection known as Botox Therapeutic that does the trick. It works by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from nerves that stimulate sweat glands. When over-the-counter anti-perspirants aren’t helping, Botox may be the answer.

Be sure to consult a licensed physician or skin care specialist to see if Botox is right for you. And if you have experienced what you feel is excessive sweating, it will be important to determine if hyperhidrosis is indeed the problem. If so, fear not! There is a solution. Botox battles excessive sweating so there’s no need for you to be embarrassed by it again!