Sweaty Palms
Hyperhidrosis
What is too Much Sweating?
Hyperhidrosis is the condition characterized by excessive sweat. In the tropics, our clinic treats a sizable number of hyperhidrosis. Some severe enough to rust any object e.g.. a military rifle, while others very mild.
Botulinum Toxins in Hyperhidrosis
Sweat production uses Acetylcholine as the neural transmitter. Hence, Botulinum toxins can block sweating in selected areas like for sweaty armpits, hands and even feet.
The Procedure
Starch is sprinkled over iodine to demarcate the areas of heavy sweating. The starch turns a dark brown or black color. This is then wiped away and the area demarcated by a surgical pen. BOTOX is then injected with a 32G needle 1cm apart.
Sounds painful. Especially on the palms of the hand. But no, anaesthesia in the form of a median-nerve and brachial-nerve block is routinely given. After which there will be absolutely no pain.
For the armpits the small pricks are quite bearable without anesthesia. We use ice packs to freeze the areas for pain reduction as well as to stop excessive bleeding. We can also use a Subdermal Laser to permanently treat sweaty on the armpits.
For the palms then only option is BOTOX. Actually there are other options, but we do not offer these:
- Saline Iontophoresis
- Transthoracic Sympathectomy
DURATION OF ACTION (BOTOX ANTIBODIES)
The initial BOTOX injections can sometimes last up to 6 months, but more likely only 4 months. Subsequent BOTOX injections may shorten to 3 months after several years of continued use as antibodies (immunity to BOTOX) against the BOTOX may develop. This is unlike in wrinkle treatment, where there is muscle atrophy mitigating the BOTOX "immunity", resulting in minimal or no change in the efficacy and duration of action even after several years of continued use.
COST FOR TREATING HYPERHIDROSIS
The treatment of Hyperhidrosis on both palms cost SGD$1,600. The armpits typically require even more BOTOX. We charge $1,600 for women and up to $2,400 for men.
For the armpits, we have a more permanent solution in the form of a Subdermal LASER. The laser destroys the sweat glands from under the skin. This costs SGD$2,500.00 for permanently sweat-free armpits.
For more information on this treatment, please call (+65) 6733 5300