Botox for Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

Anna Kremerov
Checked By Anna Kremerov

Is your sweating out of control? If you're reapplying deodorant every couple of hours to your underarms with no avail, then you may be suffering from excessive sweating, also known by the medical term hyperhidrosis.

If you're looking for an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis, then botulinum toxin injections, commonly known by the brand name Botox, could be your answer.

What Causes Excessive Sweating?

Sweating is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating your body's fight-or-flight response. When your sympathetic nervous system senses an imminent threat, it activates sweat glands in order to cool down your body and help you prepare for action. Excessive forehead sweating and facial sweating can be triggered by things like fear or anxiety, but also by exercise and hot temperatures – even if you're not aware of it happening!

Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive underarm sweating and can be classified as primary and secondary. Primary hyperhidrosis can happen for no obvious reason. It normally affects both sides of your body and is more pronounced during the daytime. It usually has an effect on the scalp, face, underarms, palms and feet. Secondary hyperhidrosis occurs as a result of an underlying medical condition, which will require investigation and treatment of the underlying cause first.

How Do Botox Injections Stop Underarm Sweating?

How Do Botox Injections Stop Underarm Sweating?

Botox injections work by blocking nerve impulses from triggering sweat glands. As a result of these small injections with a fine needle (which should only be administered by experienced doctors, nurses and other medical injectors), you'll begin to sweat less.

The treatment will only stop sweating in the area it has been injected.

What Does Botox for Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis) Treatment Involve?

A Minor’s starch iodine test may be performed prior to your treatment to determine the potential treatment area. This involves applying iodine to the area you experience excessive sweating allowing it to sweat and once it dries a small amount of starch is placed on the affected area highlighting the affected areas in dark blue colour. Experienced medical professionals who treat hyperhidrosis will inject a small amount of botulinum toxin into each affected area to control sweating.

The entire process takes about 30 minutes per area treated, though you might need more than one session if your sweating is severe or widespread over several body parts such as the forehead, back and feet.

The injected area can be numbed beforehand so you don't feel too much pain, but you may see some redness and swelling in your armpits following injectable treatments.

This will settle after a few hours and you can go back to your normal routine straight away. Results usually take two weeks to take effect and you will not need to apply deodorant when the botulinum toxin starts working.

Botox injections are not a permanent treatment for your excessive sweating problem, but it usually lasts between three to six months. If you sweat excessively, you may need to book follow-up treatment for additional injections during this time period, so be sure you are committed to using Botox to treat underarm sweating before going ahead with treatment.

How Much Does It Cost to Treat Excessive Sweating With Botox?

The price will usually depend on what areas you're having treatment; for example, it's likely to cost more to get a sweaty back treated vs. your underarms due to the surface area needing injections.

For two underarms, botox injections are priced are around £400 on average. This can also be influenced by practitioner experience and the clinic's location – London is generally more expensive than the rest of the UK!

How Much Does It Cost to Treat Excessive Sweating With Botox?

Are There Side Effects to Treating Excessive Sweating?

Possible side effects to Botox injections and other brands of botulinum toxin are rare, but can include:

  • Headaches

  • Skin irritation

  • Pain or bruising at the injection site

  • Swelling

  • Allergic reaction

  • Droopy eyelids (for facial injections)

  • Dry eyes or mouth

The most dangerous complications with Botox injections are double vision and difficulty breathing, but these are thankfully extremely rare.

If you experience any side effects or complications around your sweat glands, contact your practitioner immediately.

Who Should You Trust to Perform Your Botox for Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)?

Botulinum toxin for excessive sweating is offered 'off-label' for all areas apart from under the underarms, which means that there isn't lots of research and testing confirming its effectiveness and safety. You should therefore only see experienced medical professionals who have lots of experience in performing injectable treatments and are familiar with medical conditions associated with excessive sweating.

We highly recommend that you only undergo hyperhidrosis Botox treatment with a medically-qualified professional, who will have undergone training in anatomy and physiology, as well as be accountable to a regulatory body such as the General Medical Council (GMC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or General Dental Council (GDC).

They should also be able to advise you of the risks of injectable treatment and be confident in handling complications if they arise.

Check out our handy guide for finding a practitioner you can trust to perform Botox injections.

Book a Botox Consultation Today.

To find out if using Botox injections to treat your excessive sweating, you'll need a detailed consultation with a medical professional. Your nearest accredited and verified Botox clinics are listed below.

As always, if you have any questions you can use our Botox Q&A where you can ask for more advice direct from a trusted, experienced medical practitioner.

Not sure Botox treatment is right for you? We have lots of Botox FAQs, Botox videos, Botox reviews, and Botox before and after images for you to do more research if you are not ready to speak to a medically trained Botox injector yet.
 
If you want to look for your nearest accredited and verified Botox clinic, your local Botox clinics are listed below. 

Minerva Medical Aesthetics

5 out of 5

From 6 Review(s)

We are a doctor led provider of skin care & aesthetic procedures but always with the emphasis on creating a natural look. The clinic was established by NHS GP and cosmetic doctor, Jonathan Burrows...[READ MORE]


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The Clinic Rooms, Hathaway Medical Centre, Middlefield Road, Chippenham, SN14 6GT

Woodford Medical Aesthetics Cambridge

The clinic in Sawston Cambridge was established in 2003 by Dr Hilary Allan. Since then, she has taken it from strength to strength and today she spearheads a successful and booming clinic for her di...[READ MORE]


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1a Langford Arch, London Road, Sawston, CB22 3FX

PS Aesthetics Clinic

5 out of 5

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Based in Upshire on the outskirts of Essex and specialising in corrective skincare treatments and non-surgical facial aesthetics, our medically trained lead pharmacist practitioner will guide you wi...[READ MORE]


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Warlies Park House, Hourseshoe Hill, Upshire Waltham, EN9 3SL

Change Aesthetics

Change Aesthetics is a Doctor led medical aesthetic clinic where artistry and medicine combine. Our philosophy is that by listening and building long-lasting relationships, we will deliver great resu...[READ MORE]


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4b Regent Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5HW

Aistheta

5 out of 5

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My name is Gaynor Hughes, a registered nurse and I am passionate about great skin whatever your age, from prevention to repairing, rejuvenating and maintaining healthy looking skin. Aistheta is an...[READ MORE]


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16 Lyme Road, Crewkerne, TA18 8HE

Skin Southwest

5 out of 5

From 1 Review(s)

Skin Southwest is passionate about choosing bespoke tailor made treatment plans for all our Clients based on their concerns.[READ MORE]


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Sommerville House, 30 Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1NS

Aesthetic Enhancement Treatments

5 out of 5

From 4 Review(s)

Look years younger with Immediate results. Look good, feel better, boost your confidence and self esteem. Lanarkshire Aesthetics are a professional organisation, where client satisfaction and safe...[READ MORE]


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311 Main Street, Bells Hill, Lanarkshire, ML4 1AW

Dorset Aesthetics

5 out of 5

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Dorset Aesthetics is a nurse-led medical skincare clinic in Dorset. Combining two passions; nursing and skincare, we specialise in medical- grade treatments to help you look and feel your best, and d...[READ MORE]


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Wood Store 4, Ash Farm Courtyard, Ash Farm, Stourpaine, DT11 8PW

The Mayfair Practice

5 out of 5

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Dr Masani at the Mayfair Practice offers a diverse range of non-invasive and minimally invasive aesthetic treatments that will help improve and maintain your skin, face and body. We build a relationsh...[READ MORE]


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12 Lees Place, London, W1K 6LW