A Guide to Getting Botox for Upper Lip Sweating

Botox is a highly popular cosmetic treatment for facial wrinkles, fine lines, and even lip enhancement. But more than that, Botox injections prove to be a versatile product that also provide relief to patients suffering from medical issues like overactive bladder, chronic migraine, and excess underarm sweat. 

So how exactly does a Botox injection help control excess sweat in the face, particularly the upper lip? A person with a severe sweating problem has overactive sweat glands that triggers the body to release an outpour of sweat. Botox treatment for excessive facial sweating essentially works by stopping nerve signals from activating the sweat glands to release sweat.

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What Causes Upper Lip Sweating 

Sweating is a normal bodily function that regulates our temperature and keeps us cool as we move the body. This clear fluid is excreted by the millions of sweat glands that are found all over the body, especially in the face, forehead, palms, feet soles, and armpits.

The condition where a person sweats more than normal to the point that it disrupts their daily activities is called hyperhidrosis. To better understand what causes excess sweating in the upper lip, we should first look at the two main types of hyperhidrosis:

1. Primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH)

Primary hyperhidrosis is the leading cause for facial hyperhidrosis. It’s hard to identify the exact reason for this sweating problem since it is not caused by any underlying medical condition. Most of the time, PFH occurs when there is an increase in the activity with the nerves that send signals to the body and leads to overactive sweat glands.

People diagnosed with PFH often report that they experience the following:

• Excessive sweating in the underarm (axillary hyperhidrosis), hands, feet, and even groin
• They’ve been experiencing the symptoms for more than 6 months
• Their sweating interrupts with their quality of life

Doctors say that PFH is likely to start showing in adolescence, usually between the ages of 14 and 25 years old. Hyperhidrosis is also believed to have a genetic component and can be passed down among families who have a history of excessive sweating.

Sweating can also be triggered by stress or anxiety attacks. When you’re under any kind of stress, your body’s temperature rises and it reacts by prompting your sweat glands to release the fluid in your hands, nape, or the temple.  

2. Secondary hyperhidrosis 

Unlike PFH, secondary generalized hyperhidrosis or diaphoresis is the type that is caused by a pre-existing medical illness or a reaction to a certain kind of medication or prescription drug. It’s more prevalent among older adults who are taking supplements for their condition. People with the following diseases are prone to diaphoresis:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Menopause
• Hyperthyroidism
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic infections
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hypoglycemia
• Spine injuries
• Respiratory failure

Sweating symptoms of secondary hyperhidrosis occur on the larger parts of the body. It also gets worse when a person is asleep in which they commonly experience the phenomena known as night sweats.

Upper Lip Sweating as a Form of Craniofacial Hyperhidrosis

Sweating in the upper lip is a kind of craniofacial sweating, which is another sub-type of hyperhidrosis that affects the head, face, and scalp. Typically, most craniofacial problems are caused by PFH. People with upper lip sweat problems experience discomfort in the lip and mouth area and struggle with normal social interactions.

Hyperhidrosis in the upper lip may also be caused by gustatory sweating. This is a rare kind of sweating disorder that occurs when a person thinks or eats certain food that causes them to sweat from the face. Facial sweating of this type is also associated with consuming spicy food or hot drinks.

Gustatory sweating can also be related to Frey’s syndrome, which is sweating and flushing of the face that is caused by strong foods that elicit a reaction to the sweat glands. It can sometimes be a result of an injury or surgery to the parotid gland.

Parotid glands are responsible for producing saliva that helps in chewing, swallowing, and digesting food. When they are damaged, they need time to repair themselves and during that stage they may secrete sweat instead of saliva.

Botox Treatment for Upper Lip Sweating 

Hyperhidrosis treatment is needed when you begin experiencing chest pain, lightheadedness, or difficulty breathing along with uncomfortable perspiration. Thankfully, most cases of extreme sweating problems can be alleviated with nonsurgical procedures such as Botox.

Botox is one of the well-known cosmetic anti wrinkle injections for correcting wrinkles and fine lines in the skin. It’s also widely used as an alternative to dermal filler or lip filler and is known for providing natural enhancement to the upper lip and giving a better-looking pout.

Botox is made of botulinum toxin and it is a potent substance that acts as a neuromodulator that effectively blocks the release of the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. The acetylcholine is responsible for the contraction of the facial muscle and when it is disrupted, the muscle relaxes and the skin releases tension to improve the appearance of wrinkles.

Similar to how botulinum toxin injections work for a Botox lip flip, this treatment relieves the symptoms of hyperhidrosis by interfering with the normal activity of the nerve signals. It blocks the pathway of these chemical signals, effectively stopping them from instructing the sweat glands to produce and discharge sweat in the face.

Botox is considered an off-label use for upper lips which means it hasn’t been approved by the FDA for its treatment of excessive sweating. However, studies have shown that Botox is also effective for upper lip sweating and other craniofacial conditions.

• What Does The Procedure Look Like? Unlike a lip flip where injections are placed into the muscle, Botox for hyperhidrosis is injected beneath the skin to prevent sweat glands from activating. It’s a quick and low-risk procedure that can take around 10 to 20 minutes under the guidance of an expert injector.
• How Many Units Should I Get? The number of Botox units you’ll receive will depend on your lip size. On average, your doctor may administer 3 to 5 units of Botox just above the upper lip.
• What Are The Expected Side Effects? The side effects of Botox for hyperhidrosis are no different from the reactions of getting the injections for wrinkles. A patient may experience minor pain and swelling at the injection site and temporary muscle weakness.
• How Long Will The Results Last? You may start to notice a reduction in your body’s perspiration within days after the treatment while it can take 2 weeks to take full effect. Botox can effectively prevent excessive sweat for at least 4 to 12 months.  

Botox for Other Sweating Problems 

Aside from upper lip sweating, Botox has also proven its effectiveness for sweating in other parts of the face and the body. However, it’s important to remember that it should be performed by an experienced practitioner to ensure its success. Its treatment for hyperhidrosis can include:

• Excessive armpit sweating – Botox was initially approved for relieving symptoms of severe underarm sweating. An injection of 50 Botox units per underarm are typically administered to treat axillary hyperhidrosis. It has an efficacy rate of 82% to 87% when used for excessive underarm sweating and dryness can last for up to 12 months.  
• Hand sweating or sweaty palms – It can also treat palmar hyperhidrosis with an efficacy rate of 80% to 90%. To relieve sweat from the hands, you will need around 20 to 30 units of Botox for each palm.
• Forehead sweating – Facial sweating, particularly in the forehead, will need 2 to 3 units per injection site and can amount to a total average of 100 doses per treatment session.
• Sweating of the soles of the feet – Patients with excessive sweating on the feet may need 100 to 200 units of Botox per foot and it is successful for preventing sweating for at least 3 to 4 months.

Treatment Options for Upper Lip Sweating

Like with other medical conditions, hyperhidrosis requires a doctor’s guidance and a right treatment plan that will successfully target the source of your sweating problem. In some cases, you may be recommended to seek relief from alternative treatment options like:  

• Antiperspirants – An over-the-counter or clinical-strength antiperspirant is best for the hands and feet as well as the underarms. It contains aluminum-based active ingredients that act as temporary plugs to block sweat from exiting from the pores.
• Iontophoresis – This is a common treatment for palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis and it can be done via sessions in the clinic or at home. It is performed by submerging the hands or feet in water where a medical device will send shockwaves that will temporarily switch off the sweat glands.
• Prescription medicine – Doctors may also give your prescription for oral medications or anticholinergics which are effective for facial sweating. They work by essentially blocking signals from being sent to the sweat glands.
• Surgery – A doctor may opt for an operation that will permanently remove your sweat glands (best for underarms) or perform a sympathectomy where they will destroy certain nerves to prevent activity of the nerve signals (best for palmar sweating).

Try aNu Aesthetics’s Botox Cosmetic Treatment for Lip Sweating Problem and More 

Excessive sweating can be a huge distraction to daily activities but with the available treatments in the market today, it’s easy to relieve its uncomfortable symptoms and enjoy a sweat-free lifestyle. At aNu Aesthetics, we offer safe Botox injections so you go back to enjoying your work and interactions without worries of too much sweating.

aNu Aesthetics is a world-class aesthetics clinic and wellness spa located in Kansas City. We promote self-care and provide beauty treatments so you can achieve optimal well-being and health. Our services include Botox, facial filler injections, chemical peels, laser hair removal, and facial rejuvenation therapies. Contact us to schedule a consultation or inquire more about our products and services.

Learn more: Which Injectable Treatment Is Better for Lips: Botox or Juvéderm?

Say Goodbye To Your Wrinkles and Fine Lines

With just a few simple injections, our providers can erase your wrinkles and fine lines in no time with Botox. Call us today to book your appointment.

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