Botox stops the sweating

By Megan Scott
Associated Press (ASAP)

Kristy Beiner wore so much black in high school, the kids thought she was Goth.

But she wasn't dressed in black because of the morose subculture of Gothic fantasy. She was trying to disguise the underarm sweat rings that always appeared -- whether she was sitting on the couch, in an air-conditioned room or standing outside in freezing temperatures.

Regular and prescription deodorant did nothing to stop the sweating. Neither did the panty liners she sometimes wore inside her shirt to absorb the moisture.

"There were always sweat marks," says Beiner, 29, of Hicksville, N.Y., who five years ago was diagnosed with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). "Most of the time, I wore layers of clothing. In the summer time, I tried to wear as many tank tops as I could. But even on a colored tank top I would still get the marks. Picking out dresses for weddings and for prom, everything was always black."

Sounds like a sticky situation.

But now Beiner says her underarms are desert dry because of a series of Botox injections, which are usually used to smooth wrinkles.

"I went to the doctor one time, was there 15 minutes and got shots in each underarm," says Beiner, who recently went back for another round. "It was a bit painful, but the pain was so worth what happened after that. In three days, I was not sweating at all. On a daily basis, I am completely dry. It's unbelievable."

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SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF

Researchers are always popping out of the woodwork with uses for Botox -- migraine headaches, crow's feet, bladder problems, depression.

Since the FDA approved Botox for sweat in 2004, more doctors are using it for patients who sweat so badly it affects their daily lives. They don't shake hands, they wear layers of clothing and avoid social situations altogether.

"For a lot of them, it has nothing to do with anxiety, and the drip doesn't have to be heat related," says Dr. Ariel Ostad, a New York City dermatologist. "I have patients where it can happen year round and has no correlation with stress or temperature. "

According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, about 3 percent of the world's population have hyperhidrosis.

But even people without the condition are seeking Botox treatments in growing numbers, says Dr. David Bank, director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco, N.Y. Someone with a little stage fright or nervousness, or someone who is tired of dripping sweat at the gym, can benefit from the injections. His patient load increased during a heat wave this past summer.

The price for the procedure varies, but the average cost is $500 per underarm or palm, and $1,000 for each foot. Some insurance companies cover the cost. The injections last about six months and according to the Food and Drug Administration side effects may include: pain and bleeding at the injection site, sweating in other parts of the body, flu-like symptoms, headache, fever, itching and anxiety.

TOO MUCH MOISTURE

Hyperhidrosis is not a new condition.

But these days, people are more aware of personal issues, such as sweat and smell, says Dr. Michael Byun, a plastic surgeon in Chicago. He says most of his patients seek treatment because they are embarrassed.

"I have a semi-pro athlete, who when he plays golf, his teammates always make fun of him because his arm pit is all sweaty," says Byun. "He comes in because of that social pressure from the peers."

There are several procedures out there to treat excessive sweating -- prescription deodorants, surgical removal of the sweat glands, cutting or clamping the sympathetic nerve (hyperhidrosis is associated with sympathetic nerve overactivity) and electrical stimulation. But Ostad says Botox is more effective and less invasive. Because it's such a small needle, there is minimal scarring. The patient still sweats in other areas to keep cool.

"With a simple injection of Botox into the arm pits, within 24 hours, it is stopped," says Ostad. "There is no worry about general anesthesia. It is a five-minute procedure that dramatically changes people's lives."

Beiner, a runner, says it has changed hers.

"The first thing I did was go to the store and purchase T-shirts, a blue T-shirt and a pink T-shirt," she says. "It has completely changed my entire life."

Megan Scott in an asap reporter based in New York.

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