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Hyperhidrosis - Sympathectomy and botulinum toxin (Botox) treats sweating hands and axillae
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. All of us sweat and when it is hot, when we are anxious we sweat more. This is normal and it is only when the sweating is excessive and causes ruined clothing or extreme social embarrassment that it is called hyperhidrosis. Generalised hyperhidrosis may be the result of systemic disease such as chronic infection or an over active thyroid. Localised sweating confined to the armpits or hands is not usually associated with any generalised problems. Where does sweat come from? There are thousands of little glands in the skin that produce sweat. Sweat is one of the ways which the body uses to cool itself. The amount of sweat depends on how hot it is and on stimulation of the sweat glands by the nerves that supply them. Do I need treatment? Excessive sweating is not harmful in itself. Therefore treatment is only required if the sweating is so severe that it is causing embarrassment or difficulties at work. What treatment is available? You may initially be prescribed a strong antiperspirant called aluminium chloride. This is applied at night and washed off in the morning. Antiperspirants work better in the armpits than on the hands. If medical treatment is unsuccessful in controlling the excessive hand sweating, then an operation to divide the nerves that supply the sweat glands may be needed (Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy). The sweat glands are driven by nerves in the autonomic nervous system. These are like thermostatic adjusters as opposed to being involved with movement or sensation.
If
armpit sweating is severe then botulinum toxin injections may be indicated.
The traditional operation to divide them, using a neck or armpit incision, left a sizeable scar and were often accompanied by complications. The operation was therefore only done in very severe cases. However, thanks to the development of "keyhole" surgery the nerves can now be divided through 2 tiny holes in the armpit using special instruments. This procedure is called a thoracoscopic sympathectomy.
The
lung is then re-expanded and the instruments removed. It is usual to do one side
at one sitting, a second operation is required to tackle the other side. Sometimes the ribs where the telescope was inserted into the chest are sore for a few weeks and hurt on breathing in deeply or coughing. This is due to bruising of the ribs and gradually improves. Botulinum Toxin Injections This is the same technique as used to try to banish facial wrinkles or treat tight neck muscles. The injections are used for excessive sweating of the armpits rather than the hands. The injections prevent the small nerves within the skin from telling the sweat gland to produce sweat. The procedure takes only 10 minutes and is done in your surgeon's consulting rooms. You may resume everyday activities immediately after the treatment. Botulinum injections take a few days to work . The effect is satisfactory in the vast majority of patients. However, the beneficial reduction in sweating is not permanent, it may last from 3 to 9 months. Reinjection is possible when the effects wear off. Side effects are uncommon. Sometimes the patient may feel a little flu'ish for 24 hours afterwards. Allergy to the injections has been reported. Muscle weakness occurs with facial injections but is unheard of after armpit injections. Very rarely indeed the treatment may not work at all.
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Mr
Timothy Magee MD FRCS is a Consultant Vascular and |
| For
further information and consultations please contact Royal
Berkshire Vein Clinic info@royalberkshireveinclinic.co.uk NHS secretary Royal Berkshire Hospital 0118 3227773 |
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