Can Botox help decrease underarm sweating?
Yes. If you are plagued with excess underarm sweating and have not benefitted from nonmedical treatments, Botox may be an effective treatment. It has been studied and has gained widespread acceptance, although it remains an “off label” use of the medication. How does it work? Botox blocks the nerve signal to sweat glands. The same receptor (acetylcholine receptor) responsible for transmission of nerve impulses to muscles is responsible for transmission of nerve impulses that control sweating. By temporarily blocking these receptors, Botox can dramatically decrease underarm sweating in many patients. What are the alternatives? The most common treatment is application of topical solution containing aluminum chloride. This works by blocking the sweat glands themselves. For some patients this is sufficient. Other medical treatments that have been tried include injection of anticholinergic medications which weren’t very effective, and surgical destruction of the nerves to the sweat glands w
