Can BOTOX Really Reduce Excessive Sweating?

Botox® in Portland, ME

Botox® in Portland, ME

Botox injections are a household name for wrinkle relaxation and a younger-looking face. But, the Botox product is actually an effective treatment for other, less cosmetic, medical conditions as well, including hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.

The FDA has approved Botox neurotoxin for the treatment of excessive sweating in both men and women. This condition can cause embarrassment over odor or appearance and may be an inhibiting factor to a fulfilling social life, career or self-esteem. Obviously, it’s not fun to sweat through your clothing for no apparent reason, and sufferers often find themselves avoiding others or going to great lengths to address the problem through dress, lifestyle or appearance changes. But, with Botox, none of that is necessary.

At the Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England, we serve the Portland, Maine area with skilled, qualified Botox injections for any of our patients’ needs, including the medication’s use for excessive sweating.

More on Hyperhidrosis

Sweating, of course, is normal, but excessive sweating is the result of overactive sweat glands. Ordinarily triggered by heat, stress, or nervous system reaction, sweating serves a valuable purpose to maintain body temperature in these situations. In hyperhidrosis, the sweating mechanism gets “switched on” without these triggers, causing daily and constant overactive sweating. The causes aren’t known, but there is a genetic component to the condition, and research is ongoing.

While we don’t know why hyperhidrosis happens to some people, we do know something that stops it: Botox. In the same manner that it relaxes underlying muscle activity in the face to quell wrinkles, it also acts on sweat glands beneath the skin’s surface to block the chemical signals that tell them to produce sweat.

Administered by injection in specific sites in the underarms, Botox decreases the amount of sweat produced in the underarms — and, unlike prescription antiperspirants that need constant reapplication, Botox treatment can provide relief from excessive sweating for up to six months at a time.

We offer comprehensive care for hyperhidrosis patients throughout the Portland, Maine area at Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England, including options like Botox and medications, all overseen by qualified physicians like Dr. Maria Atkins.

A Better Future

It’s important to note that sweat still is produced in other areas of the body besides the underarms that will be treated with Botox, such as feet, scalp, neck and elsewhere. But, the treatment targets the largest and most effective sweat glands in the body, providing significant relief to hyperhidrosis sufferers.

Our trained medical team at Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England will be happy to talk with you about whether Botox is a good solution for your excessive sweating and create an individualized treatment plan based on your health, medical history, and personal needs.

Contact us anytime to schedule a consultation and find out more about hyperhidrosis and Botox.

Brotox: The Growing Trend of BOTOX for Men

Botox® in Portland, ME

Botox® in Portland, ME

For a very long time, men and women had different standards put upon them when it came to aging. When a woman began to show signs of her age, society encouraged her to immediately take steps to keep herself looking young. In some fields, such as modeling, news reporting and acting, women of a certain age started to see the job opportunities available for them drastically diminish. However, men were not subjected to that same type of scrutiny. It was not (and still is not) uncommon to watch movies where a man is paired up with a woman who is 20 or more years his junior.

However, it seems like these standards are starting to even out. Men are starting to feel the pressure to keep up their appearance if they are going to be competitive in the job market and other aspects of life. One of the major factors that has contributed to this change was the recession that took place in 2008.

In 2008, a middle-aged man who had been in the same career his entire life now surprisingly found himself without a job. He was job searching and competing with younger men who were equally as qualified, who may have received a better education and who were willing to work for less. Now, in addition to being qualified, he had to look young in order to get the job.

This trend led to a rush of men getting BOTOX® injections. BOTOX® is an injectable treatment that is designed to relax facial muscles and as a result, remove the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. Interestingly, over the last ten years, the number of men who have gotten BOTOX® procedures has increased by more than 250 percent.

Research shows that in the last decade, men have felt an increase in the pressure to look young to compete in the job market. The irony is that the social pressure that was created by men and placed on women has now come back to bite them. Younger-looking men are able to generate a lot more revenue than their older peers.

That being said, men should not just rush out and get BOTOX® injections. It is first good to sit down and discuss the results you want with the cosmetic professional who is going to be performing the injection. In times past, the majority of BOTOX® treatments were given to women, yet men and women have drastically different outcomes when they are treated with BOTOX®.

Men have more muscle mass in their faces and their muscles are distributed in a unique fiber pattern. So it is good to talk to our cosmetic surgeon to make sure that they are experienced when it comes to giving BOTOX® treatments to men.

Although the downturn in the economy is what got men interested in BOTOX®, it is not what has kept them interested. What is keeping men interested in BOTOX® is that they realize that when they look younger, they feel better. Their self-esteem increases.

BOTOX® is a powerful tool. It can help both men and women regain their youthful appearance and have the confidence they need to take on the world. To get all the facts about BOTOX® for men, make an appointment at the Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England, with locations in Waterville and Portland. We will be happy to address any questions or concerns you have about this injectable. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.