| __________ |
INTRODUCTION |
__________ |
|
| Why
do we perspire ? |
 |
Our
brains contain a nerve centre which regulates perspiration and
which is situated in the hypothalamus. This nerve centre regulates
the extent to which we perspire, thus keeping the body temperature
in between normal limits.
|
|
|
It
is activated in cases of physical exercise or fever, but also
in the case of obesity, anxiety, stress, alcohol abuse, spicy
food, disorders of the thyroid gland and untreated diabetes.
Anamnesis, clinical examination and analysis of the blood serve
to make a diagnosis.
|
| |
|
Perspiration:
secretion and odour
Our
body has two kinds of sweat-glands: |
|
-
The eccrine glands: are spread across our entire body's
skin (but very much concentrated in the armpits). These glands
secrete fluid sweat (water!). Certain bacteria feed on this sweat
which produces an odour. The eccrine glands are therefore responsible
for perspiration odour.
|
|
|
-
The apocrine glands: are located in the inguinal folds,
the armpits and the genital parts. They secrete a liquid, without
any influence of warmth. The apocrine glands are therefore responsible
for our body odour. |
|
Remark:
the smell of our feet is due to the proliferation of bacteria
as a result of our wearing shoes. When walking barefeet, our feet
can still sweat, but without a smell ! |
| What
can you do about it ? |
|
The
body as a whole: wash twice per day, as well as after every
outburst of perspiration; avoid alcohol abuse and spicy food.
Try and anticipate moments of stress and prepare yourself. Avoid
excess weight. Drugs, such as atropine, do exist, but they have
a lot of side-effects (dry mouth, slower working of the stomach,
etc.).
|
|
|
The
armpits: the methods most easy to use are epilation
(the bacteria that cause the odour stick to the hair in
the armpits!), deodorants and antiperspirants based on
aluminium salts (these close the channels that link the
sweat-glands to the skin).
|
|
The
technique to locally inject Botox is very effective. You
will find more information about it in this text.
|
|
|
The
hands: iontoforesis can help (two tubs of salted water through
which a light electric current is run; you soak your hands in
them for twenty minutes, and this three times per week). In
doing so, you clog the pores. However, a light tingling can
occur. Has to be carried out in hospital first, possibly at
home afterwards.
|
|
|
The
feet: you can bathe your feet in a 10% glutaraldehyde solution
(formaldehyde is no longer used because of the danger of irritations
and contact allergies). These foot-baths are certainly effective,
but they cause those parts of the skin that have been soaked
in the solution to turn a brownish colour.
|
|
| |
Treating
armpit perspiration with injections of Botox
______________________________________________
| __________ |
HISTORY |
__________ |
|
|
Botox
has been marketed since 1973, for spasms of the eyelids, certain
sight problems and spasmodic torticollis. Millions of people
over the entire world have been treated using Botox.
|
|
|
In
1988, a Vancouver ophthalmologist who injected his
patients who suffered from eyelids spasms with Botox
noticed that Botox made their wrinkles disappear as
well. Her husband, dermatologist Alistair Carruthers
MD, did extensive research, which confirmed that Botox
could be very effective to treat aesthetic indications.
|
|
Further
investigations in this field have lead to the conclusion
that Botox can also be used in the treatment of perspiration.
|
|
|
Nowadays,
Botox is often used in medicine, in certain cases of the following
affections: spasms of the eyelids, sight problems, spasmodic
torticollis, spasms of the laryngeal muscles, writer's cramp,
trembling and tics, multiple sclerosis, encephalopathy, the
condition after certain cerebral haemorrhages, injuries of
the spinal marrow, nervous paralysis, facial spasms, problems
to swallow, speech impediments, spasms of the urinary bladder,
etc... |
| __________ |
TECHNIQUE |
__________ |
|
Botox
(type A botulinum toxin) is a drug derived from the botulism
bacteria. Botox does not contain the bacteria, but contains
only the toxin. (Contrary to the botulism disease, which
is caused by the massive intake of the bacteria, especially
in certain cases of food poisoning). |
|
At
the place of injection, botulinum toxin temporarily weakens
the cholinergic nerve-ends which stimulate the glands. |
|
|
By
blocking the stimulation, Botox hinders excessive secretion,
which results in only a light, normal secretion remaining.
|
| |
| Which
results can be expected ? |
|
The
secretion-zones are previously marked by applying a colouring
matter on the skin (Minor test).
|
|
|
The
first results become noticeable around the second day.
The full result takes about six days and will last for
6 to 12 months, after which the treatment can be started
all over again.
|
|
In
case of persons being sensitive, a light anaesthesia can
first be carried out, by locally applying EMLA-ointment
beforehand. |
|
| Some
treatments can have an influence on the effect of Botox |
|
Antibiotics
based on amino glycosides (injections with Streptomycin
, Tobramycin en Garamycin ), penicillamin, quinine and blocks
of the calcium channel (Calan , Cardizem , Dilacor , Norvasc
, Procardia , Verelan ).
If you are being treated with one of these drugs, please
make mention of it.
|
|
Here
Botox is used in very small amounts comparatively to other
medical specialisations.
|
|
|
It
is working by blocking the nervous ends at the contact
of the muscles in the areas where it has been injected,
and this only temporary.
|
| |
| __________ |
SIDE-EFFECTS |
__________ |
| Is
there a danger for the body ? |
Outside
the action on the muscle, Botox has no toxic or any other effect
on the body.
| Are
there any side-effects ? |
|
No
side effects are visible after the injections (ecchymoses
are very rare, except when taking aspirin the last few days
prior to the injections).
|
|
|
A
light, local sensitiveness of the skin can occur just
after the injections, but in most cases there is no pain.
|
| |
| Are
there any counter-indications to Botox ? |
|
As
a precaution: pregnancy, breast-feeding and neuro-muscular
diseases (myasthenia). |
|
|
|
| |
| __________ |
INDICATIONS |
__________ |
| Is
Botox the appropriate solution for me ? |
|
Originally,
these treatments were reserved for real cases of hyper-hidrosis
(excessive armpit-perspiration). |
|
|
But
nowadays, all cosmetic indications of "wellness"
can be treated this way, i.e. all patients who want to free
themselves of sweat-marks during the Summer, after sports
or in stressful circumstances.
|
| |
| __________ |
PHOTO
GALERY |
__________ |
|
Due
to the instructions of the Medical Association in Belgium,
it is not allowed to use fotos on a website. Please apologize
us. |
If
you wish to have specific information relating to your case,
please come and see us.
|
