Publication:

Effectiveness, safety and tolerability of botulinum toxin in focal hyperhidrosis and dynamic facial wrinkles

Background Botulinum toxin is a potent neurotoxin that inhibits the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction thereby causing localized muscle relaxation which smoothen the overlying skin and reduces dynamic facial wrinkles. Also clinical studies suggest that intra dermal injections of botulinum toxin are effective in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis by blocking the excessive sympathetic cholinergic sudomotor nerve traffic to the palmar surface of the hands.

Methods We treated twenty patients with palmar hyperhidrosis and fifteen patients with dynamic facial wrinkles with intra dermal botulinum toxin type A.

Results Among patients treated, complete response was seen in 90% of patients with hyperhidrosis and 70% for patients with facial wrinkles. The relapse of symptoms was highly variable among patients and the average relapse was seen at 14 weeks for both the indications. No major side effects noted.

Conclusions Botox is an effective and highly tolerable treatment for both hyperhidrosis and facial wrinkles.