A Potential Bonus of the Popular Treatment
Botox is made from a purified protein that is delivered to the muscles that cause wrinkles. Its main purpose is to relax the muscles and soften wrinkles, giving the face a refreshed, rejuvenated appearance. While Botox is primarily known for its cosmetically enhancing effects, it can also be used to treat hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.
Hyperhidrosis is sweating that is not necessarily related to heat or exercise. The sweat might soak through clothes or drip off the hands. Some people are triggered by specific outside forces that cause them to sweat, and others sweat due to anxiety or irregular body temperature. Either way, we know that excessive sweating is not the most pleasant of experiences, and we are happy to provide a potential solution for our patients.
How Do Botox Treatments Help with Sweating?
Botox blocks the nerves that are responsible for activating the sweat glands. When the nerves do not trigger the sweat glands, the patient will experience a massive decrease in sweating. This can be extremely helpful for those with overactive sweat glands. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, underarm Botox injections can reduce underarm sweating by 82-87%, for 4-14 months.
Are There Any Other Extra Benefits of Botox?
Being that the function of Botox is to relax the muscles, it offers a variety of cosmetic and medical effects in addition to wrinkle reduction.
Additional benefits of Botox include:
- Reduced migraine pain
Botox treatments can help to reduce migraine headaches, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells. After receiving Botox injections, these effects can take 10-14 days to take hold. One study followed 65 patients and found that a response rate of 65% was experienced after three courses of treatment.
- Treatment for Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s palsy refers to temporary facial paralysis or weakness on one side of the face. It is caused by a dysfunctional cranial nerve that directs the muscles. A study published in The Scientific Journal of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists followed 14 patients who received Botox treatments for Bell’s Palsy and found that all 14 of the patients reported improved facial symmetry -- quite a compelling finding!
- Decreasing eye twitching and squinting
Many of us have experienced the occasional eye twitch from time to time, especially on days when we didn’t get enough sleep. What most people don’t know is that chronic eye twitching can actually be caused by a condition called blepharospasm. A study published by Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders called Botox the “treatment of choice” for the condition.
- Alleviating overactive bladder
This procedure is typically performed by a urologist who injects Botox into the bladder to treat overactivity. In the same way that it works for other parts of the body, it helps the muscles of the bladder relax and allows the patient more time to get to the bathroom when they need to urinate. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine followed 249 women who were, on average, reported urinating five times a day. 70% of the women at the end of the study reported urinating only three times per day, a vast improvement.
Nonsurgical Treatments
Not every cosmetic treatment has to involve surgery in order to yield amazing results. At West Coast Plastic Surgery, our patients typically undergo Botox for the purpose of wrinkle reduction, but we are happy to discuss the many added benefits of Botox, including sweat reduction. If you are looking for a nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatment, our dedicated team is here to meet your specific needs and leave you feeling healthy and refreshed from the inside out.
If you are interested in receiving Botox treatments or one of our other procedures, call our practice in Oxnard today at (805) 978-8545 or contact us online. We look forward to helping you look and feel your best.