Excessive Sweating

The Science

Normally, sweating is the major mechanism through which the body cools itself. But as anyone with sweaty palms knows, that feedback loop isn’t always triggered by heat; anxiety, anger, and embarrassment are just a few of the ways our body gets this feedback loop wrong.

If you find that sweating is interfering with your activities, you’re not alone. Nearly 3% of the population shares this condition, with half of those cases involving the armpits. When you find you can’t control sweating with antiperspirants, you may begin to seek alternatives.

Our Approach

For some individuals, excess sweating (hyperhidrosis) can be an annoyance, while for others it can be the sign of a more serious medical condition. After ruling out causes such as thyroid problems, diabetes, or even infection, our physicians will work with you to find a solution that works for your lifestyle.

We may recommend a variety of solutions. For patients who are interested in disabling the sweat glands completely (albeit temporarily), we may also suggest injections of a toxin such as Botox^® or Dysport^®.

A common concern many patients have about Botox is that it might interrupt the body’s natural cooling properties. But this is not an issue, as the areas where toxins are injected (around the scalp, or under the arms) are not essential to the body’s cooling mechanism. “Botox inhibits the eccrine glands specifically and has few side effects if given in a safe dilution and dose,” says Dr. Patricia Wexler.

What We Offer

• Laboratory Tests
• Toxins