Local injection of botulinum toxin A: An alternative therapy for axillary osmidrosis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of local injection of botulinum toxin A for treating axillary osmidrosis. One hundred and fifty patients with axillary osmidrosis were randomly divided to receive botulinum toxin A injection treatment (50 U of botulinum toxin A was injected intracutaneously into 6-20 different sites within each axilla, n = 74) or surgical excision of the apocrine glands (n = 76). The patients were followed up for 1-3 months to analyze the therapeutic effect and complications of the two methods. The curative effect in patients with mild and moderate axillary osmidrosis was not significantly different between the botulinum toxin A injection group and operation group. However, for patients with severe axillary osmidrosis, surgery treatment seemed to be superior to botulinum toxin A treatment (P = 0.005). There was also no significant difference in the modified Dermatology Life Quality Index between the two treatments. Two cases showed complications related to hemorrhage and incision infection in the operation group. In conclusion, local injection of botulinum toxin A is a safe, fast and effective treatment for mild and moderate axillary osmidrosis, but the long-term effect remains to be further investigated.

A prospective clinical and histologic study of axillary osmidrosis treated with the microwave-based device

“…Surgical treatments have been proven to be definite and effective treatments while the effect of botulinum toxin was shown to be temporary and insignificant. 9 Subcutaneous shaving is the procedure most commonly performed in our institution. 10 Although different techniques have been proposed to reduce complications, such as hematoma, epidermal necrosis, and scarring, these complications are not uncommon.…”

Axillary Osmidrosis Treatment Using an Aggressive Suction–Curettage Technique: A Clinical Study on Paired Control

“…(p value = 0.002, Chi-square test) 3 The difference between two groups is not statistically significant. (p value = 0.25 Fisher's exact test) 4 The experimental group has statistically higher incidence of recurrence, but not significant. (p value = 0.041, Chi-square test) 5 The experimental group has statistically significant lower incidence of ugly scar.…”

“…In China, some patients prefer surgical therapy as a permanent solution as compared with nonsurgical methods such as laser treatments [3] and botulinum toxin injections [4]. In the past 10 years, open excision of the apocrine glands was considered the most effective and popular way of treating osmidrosis, however, it was often associated with complications (skin necrosis and hematoma) and noticeable postoperative scars.…”

Histopathological Evidence of the Efficacy of Percutaneous Ethanol Injection in the Treatment of Axillary Osmidrosis: A Promising New Procedure

“…On the one hand, medical treatments such as topical agents, systemic agents, and botulinum toxin A have temporary results in the treatment of AO [3,7]. Most patients seek a more permanent solution, which can be accomplished only by more invasive means.…”