If sweaty underarms have been ailing you and no topical treatments have worked, there may be a solution: Botox.
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessively sweaty armpits (which isn’t always related to heat or exercise). The heavy sweating can soak through clothing, drip off hands, cause social anxiety and embarrassment, and disrupt day-to-day life.
Jasmine Arteaga, 41, from Queens, NY, can relate. She’s suffered from hyperhidrosis since she can remember and recently opted to try Botox as a solution to her lifelong discomfort.
“I have always felt self-conscious about wearing certain clothing like silk, satin, or any material that’s not black or white,” she tells POPSUGAR. “It’s quite noticeable and embarrassing.”
Arteaga tried different deodorants, including sulfate and aluminum-free brands, which she says worked for a few weeks before the excessive sweating returned. And forget about dancing. While Arteaga likes to stay active, dancing has produced some of the worst sweating – and it became overwhelming to manage.
It was especially terrible during a date night recently. “We danced to one song, and my underarms were completely drenched before the song even finished,” she recalls. “It dried up after a while and left the nastiest ring covering both sides of the dress. I had to call it a night and was super embarrassed to call him again.”
Tired of dealing with embarrassment and social isolation due to her sweaty-armpits problem, Arteaga decided to try something different after a good friend told her that Botox works for various ailments, including the issue she faced.
“I did my research and read great reviews about Dr. David Shafer and how the product has changed his patients’ lives and the positive outcome they experienced,” she says.
Other treatments for hyperhidrosis include prescription medications and therapies. For the most severe cases, surgery to remove sweat glands or disconnect the nerves related to producing too much sweat may be suggested.
Botox, or onabotulinumtoxinA, injections for hyperhidrosis were approved by the FDA in 2004. It is a natural, purified protein with the ability to temporarily block the secretion of the chemical that is responsible for “turning on” the body’s sweat glands.
Today, at least 20 countries have approved Botox for the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Results typically take anywhere between three to four days to become evident, with full effects usually noted within two weeks. It can last for up to six months, with some studies finding it can last as long as 14 months. Because the injection is made just below the surface of the skin, it is shallow and not permanent. Research has found that the treatment is not only safe but also effective, resulting in an 82 to 87 percent decrease in sweating.
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“It was an amazing experience,” Arteaga says of her first treatment. “The amount of Botox injected wasn’t much and didn’t hurt at all, which is a great thing, because I am scared of needles.”
Following the procedure, Arteaga says she didn’t feel anything and went on about her day running errands. It wasn’t until the next day that she noticed a difference.
“I haven’t used deodorant since the treatment, and I’m loving every moment of it,” she says of her newfound freedom.
Arteaga was advised to inform her doctor when she starts to notice the sweating again and to return for another round of Botox in anywhere from three to six months. While she was bummed to learn the treatment wasn’t permanent, it’s a treatment that has produced results, unlike anything she’s tried before.
“Totally loving my results,” she says. “I wore a silk top this week with confidence and danced all night long with no worries.”
