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Excessive sweating
Do beads of sweat trickle down your forehead while your sitting at your desk? Does you hair look wet and greasy from excessive scalp sweating mere hours after you have washed it? Is it playing havoc with your confidence, work and social life?
If you answered YES to any of the above questions then you may be suffering from craniofacial hyperhydrosis, or excessive sweating of the face, head, or scalp.
Important facts about excessive sweating.
Some medical conditions and medications can cause excessive sweating referred to as secondary hyperhidrosis. A medical check-up and assessment must be performed to eliminate secondary hyperhidrosis before considering treatment for excessive sweating.
If your excessive sweating is determined independent of a medical condition or medication then a diagnosis of primary hyperhidrosis can be given.
Your questions answered
What is Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)?
Primary Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes abnormally excessive sweating unrelated to heat, exercise or an underlying medical condition. It can affect the face, underarms, hand sand feet causing the sufferer social anxiety, embarrassment and occupational difficulties.
The condition affects approximately 1% to 3% of the population and usually starts in childhood or adolescents.
What causes Hyperhydrosis?
Although Diabetes, Menopause, Thyroid Dysfunction, Low Blood Sugar, some Cancers, Heart problems, Infections and Nervous System problems can sometimes causes excessive sweating, most cases occur in individuals who are otherwise healthy. Heat and emotions can trigger excessive sweating in some, some unlucky individuals suffer constantly regardless of mood or weather.
Do I have Hyperhidrosis?
Although higher temperatures and stressful situations can increase perspiration, they don't cause hyperhidrosis. The condition is believed to be hereditary. If you struggle to control your daily sweating, experience clothing type and colour restrictions to accomodate your sweating, are self conscious/embarrassed or are avoiding sporting and social situations then you may be a suitable candidate for this treatment.
What are the treatment options for Hyperhidrosis?
- Over-the -counter antiperspirants containing low dose metal salt (usually aluminium) or aluminium chloride.
- Prescription strength antiperspirants containing chloride hexahydrate.
- Oral anticholinergic medications
- Iontophoresis- a device which passes ionized tap water through the skin using direct electricity.
- miraDry- a microwave device to destroy sweat glands
- Surgery- A procedure called a Thoracic sympathectomy which is usually a last resort measure.
Treatment Options
Anti-wrinkle injections for facial sweating?
Excessive face, head and scalp sweating treatment involves a special technique using a series of very small injections of the same drug used for wrinkle injections which is called Botulinum toxin A.
| Pricing: |
$15 per unit Price range for treatment can vary from $60-$225 depending on size of area affected |
Is treatment painful?
Expect mild discomfort and stinging which can be reduced by local anaesthetic numbing cream, ice, local anaesthetic nerve blocks or vibration analgesia.
How long does treatment last?
Results for facial sweating have been proved to be highly affective in sweat reduction for approximately 3-4 months depending on individual results and severity.
Is treatment safe?
Botulinum toxin A has been used worldwide since 1989 for a variety of conditions including cerebral palsy in children and movement disorders (face, head, neck and shoulders).
All medications carry a risk of side effects, but generally any side effects of this treatment are mild and temporary.
The most common side effects of this treatment are:
- Perceived increased sweating in other areas of the body
- Hot flushes
- Transient arm weakness (low risk)
- Mild transient headache in 10% of recipients
- Mild bruising and swelling
- Mild risk of infection due to skin puncture from injections
- Asymmetrical results as sometimes there is asymmetrical sweating prior to treatment
How long does treatment take?
The procedure only takes around 15 minutes.