Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 2000 May; 89(21): 909-15.

[Type A botulinum toxin: a new methods in treating focal hyperhidrosis. A summary of various possibilities in hyperhidrosis therapy with special emphasis type A botulinum toxin injections]

Kreyden OP, BÃ¶ni R, Burg G.

Dermatologische Klinik, Universit�tsspital Z�rich.

Hyperhidrosis is defined as an excess of sweating over the amount necessary for thermoregulation. Essential focal hyperhidrosis is a overactivity of the sweat glands of the axilla, palms and soles probably due to a disorder of the sympathetic nervous system. The therapy is difficult, even though there are many therapeutic options. Beside the effort to treat the psychovegetative disorder (autogenic training or acupuncture), there are efforts to seal the lumen of terminal sweat ducts using aluminiumchlorhydroxide application or iontophoresis. Surgery has the aim to eliminate sweat glands either by excision or by denervation. It is also possible to use chemical denervation with systemic anticholinergics. Only recently the local chemodenervation with injections of botulinum toxin (BTX) was added to the therapeutic tools of focal hyperhidrosis. We present an overview of several therapeutic options in consideration of BTX.