Treatment of focal hyperhidrosis.

BACKGROUND

Focal hyperhidrosis is not rare, affecting over 2.5% of the population. This condition is often socially and professionally debilitating, leading to significant quality of life impairment. It most commonly involves the axillae, palms, soles, and face.

OBJECTIVE

To review hyperhidrosis and discuss and compare the treatment options currently available.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical or systemic therapies may be helpful for patients with mild disease. Invasive surgical options, although often effective, are limited by complications. More recently, botulinum toxin injection has proven to be a safe and successful treatment for hyperhidrosis and results in high patient satisfaction. Botulinum toxin A (Botox, Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA) is currently approved in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other countries for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis and is routinely used off-label for other anatomic sites.