How Botox Can Help a Sweaty Betty

Few things are more infuriating or embarrassing than excessive sweating. Maybe you've been there: Even in the freezing cold, if you hold your arms too close to your body, sweat begins to pour from your armpits! It doesn't matter how recently you applied deodorant, it seems as if there is a neverending stream emitting from your sweat glands. Speaking of neverending, the cycle of the pit stain barely even bothers you anymore. You simply leave your arms at your sides where they belong so as to not expose others to your sweaty glory. You're not alone; more than one million people in the United States experience up to four times more sweating than the normal amount. If even prescription-strength deodorant doesn't do the trick, it may be time to check into Botox injections.

>> Read more: Excessive Sweating and What It Means

Yes, you read that right: Botox injections to the armpits. In fact, you can even get Botox injected into the palms of your hands and soles of your feet if those are perspiration problem areas for you. In 2004, Botox became an FDA-approved drug to prevent "axillary hyperhidrosis," or excessive sweating of the underarms. One injection of the drug can give you dry pits for up to six months!

Botox works by essentially preventing the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a chemical that tells your sweat glands to go ahead and open the floodgates. When Botox is injected into your skin, the treatment binds itself to the nerve endings and prevents acetylcholine from reaching the sweat glands, and your sweat glands are none the wiser. (via How Stuff Works)

If you're worried that blocking your sweat glands could be dangerous for your health, don't be. Your body has plenty of other sweat glands that can get the job done. This way, it just won't be as noticeable through things like pit stains or sweaty, smelly socks.

Have you ever used Botox as an antiperspirant? Let us know how it worked in the comments below!