Would You Inject Botox in Your Armpits to Stop Sweating?

by QuickieChickLaurel House

Despite antiperspirant's links to cancers, including breast cancer (thanks to smearing aluminum onto your lymph gland-filled armpits), we continue to make the daily choice of clogging our pores with chemicals just for the sake of staying dry. But let's quickly clear something up- for all of you "but I don't want to stink" excuse makers: Antiperspirants don't stop stink. They stop sweat- hence the anti"perspire" portion of the word. Deodorants stop odor- hence the "deodor" portion of the word.
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Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Rob Streisfeld reminds us that "your body is designed to sweat, so using chemicals and agents to block the natural process is never good." The problem with conventional antiperspirant deodorants is that they use chemicals to reduce sweat and odor by blocking the sweat glands and the ability to detox which can affect the lymph system. Because all of our systems are interconnected, stunting the lymph system can also take a toll on the immune system as a whole.

WATCH THE ACTUAL BOTOX INJECTIONS W/ DR. NICCOLE & LAUREL HERE:



So what's a stinky girl to do?
For starters, natural, non-antiperspirant deodorants are the better choice. Instead of clogging pores with chemicals, natural deodorants use mineral salts, unprocessed oils, and herbs to balance pH and reduce bacterial growth. Many of them are infused with herbs that naturally have antiperspirant qualities like aloe, coriander, and lichen. And, yes, they do work. Some purists prefer using baking soda and water as a natural, inexpensive alternative to deodorant.
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What if you are a "serious" sweater?
Most "normal" people don't sweat enough for it to be an issue. But then there are those who suffer from an embarrassing, rarely talked about, but pretty commmon problem called Hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is excessive and unnatural sweating that can result in sweating through and ruining clothes- even saturating leather jackets. Because it can result in visible circles of sweat, sufferers are less likely to raise their hands, keeping their arms pinned close against their bodies, constantly cognizant of the embarrassing underarm deluge, which just promotes the problem even more- a major confidence killer. For these people, not even antiperspirants help.
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How do you Know if you have Hyperhidrosis?
The easiest way to tell if you have hyperhidrosis is if antiperspirants don't help.

Botox: The surprising remedy to stop the deluge?
Sure, the common use of Botox is to stop the furrow on your forehead. But Botox has a slew of other uses too like to help with migraines, sex drive, and sweating. Botox injections into the armpits can completely change a serious sweater's attitude, amplify their confidence, and allow them to stop being scared to wear anything other than black and white tops (the only colors that hide circles of underarm sweat).
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Botox for the armpits isn't a new treatment. It's just not as well known as for use on the face. In fact, Botox was FDA approved for use in the armpits 2004.

Antiperspirants and your Health
A study conducted by Chicago allergist Dr. Kris McGrath, found a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving and cancer. The findings suggest that Aluminum Chlorohydrate, a toxin present in antiperspirant, is more readily able to enter freshly shaven skin, and directly access the underlying lymphatic system, which is connected to the breasts. Of the more than 400 Chicago-area breast cancer survivors interviewed for the study, those who aggressively shaved their armpits and used antiperspirant were believed to have been diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years earlier than the non-users. Bigger than a localized Chicago study, a frightening parallel has been drawn between the increased global use of antiperspirant and the increased global rate of breast cancer incidence, that's according to the journal Medical Hypotheses.

Botox is Safer than Antiperspirants?
Yes! Antiperspirants dry up the sweat glands and prevent the buildup of fluids. The problem is that sweat is something we need to do in order to detox and cool the body.

Botox acts differently than antiperspirants. Instead of drying up the sweat glands, botox prevents the mini muscle surrounding the sweat gland from contracting, thereby minimizing (not stopping) the amount of sweat released from that particular area for an average of 6 months. It turns an excessive sweater into a normal sweater. Because you still sweat a little, the possibility of bacteria build-up (which is what causes the odor) is still there, so it's a good idea to continue to wear deodorant, not antiperspirant.

If you're an excessive sweater, talk to your dermatologist about Botox. It's actually covered by some insurance companies! I visited Dr Michael Niccole, M.D. the plastic surgeon to the stars, Founder and Medical Director of CosmetiCare Plastic Surgery Center & MedSpa for my treatment. Considering that I was having injections in my armpits, it couldn't have been more pleasant!

xx
Laurel

QuickieChick's Cheat Sheet
QuickieChick's Cheat Sheet

Laurel House is a lifestyle author, expert, writer, personal trainer and the "QuickieChick." Her "quickies" are all about making the most out of every moment- whether it's a saddlebag-burning "Quickie Workout in Bed," a de-puffing "Bites with Benefits" meal, or how to get a $150 spa-quality skin peel out of a $1 tomato and lemon at-home Refrigerator Facial. Her YouTube videos have received over 6 million views and now you can get even more Quickie Tips in her new book "QuickieChick's Cheat Sheet to Life, Love, Food, Fitness, Fashion and Finance on a Less than Fabulous Budget"(St. Martin's, May 2012).