Can Botox treat hyperhidrosis? Is this Botox hyperhidrosis treatment approved by the FDA or just experimental?
Botox is FDA approved and is very effective and safe treating excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis). It is widely used for this indication.
The underarm region is pre-treated with a topical anesthetic. The treatment requires injecting a series of small volumes of Botox directly into the skin covering the anatomical area. The Botox effect lasts about 6 to 9 months.
Thanks for your question.
Botox is often used to downregulate the sweatglands. Sweating volumes get reduced because some of the nervous system modulation of sweating gets weakened.
This use of Botox is considered "Off-Label," which means that it is not sanctioned by the FDA, but it is also not forbidden. The reality is that the FDA, in evaluating a new drug or device, is unable to test every possible clinical situation that the new drug or device might be effect for. Unless it poses a clear danger, a new drug or device, if cleared for one or more uses, will often be found to have other untested uses. That being said, Botox works very well to reduce sweating in the palms and underarm areas.
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