A woman who experienced frequent embarrassing episodes in which sweat would literally drip from one of her hands was successfully treated using botox, details a Clinical Picture in this week's edition of The Lancet.
Botox (botulinium toxin) has long been known as a tool for ridding the face of wrinkles, but its effects in treating sweating are not so well documented.
The woman, aged 23, had experienced these sweat attacks (known as hyperhidrotic attacks) since childhood, but at the time of treatment the problem had become so bad that she was experiencing an average of five attacks per day, each lasting on average 30 minutes.
Attacks could occur spontaneously, or would be caused by emotional stress, exercise, alcohol, or coffee.
The patient had no other clinical symptoms and was otherwise healthy, and conventional treatments had not worked.
She was treated at the University Hospital, Dûsseldorf, by Dr Daniela Bruch-Gerharz, who said: "The problem resolved following intradermal injections of botulinium toxin.
"The treatment was well tolerated and the patient's quality of life appreciably improved. In recent years, botulinium toxin – a highly poisonous substance – has been used as a therapeutic option for hyperhidrosis."
The Lancet