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Put an end to excessive sweating.
If clinical antiperspirants are not enough, Botox offers a proven, FDA-approved way to dramatically reduce underarm sweat. A quick in-office treatment quiets the overactive nerves behind excessive sweating, with results that last six to twelve months.
A simple fix for a frustrating problem
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating beyond what the body needs to regulate temperature, and the underarms are one of the most common areas it affects. It happens when the nerves that signal your sweat glands become overactive, so the glands keep producing sweat even when your body does not need to cool down.
Botox is an FDA-approved treatment for underarm hyperhidrosis. It is most effective for focal hyperhidrosis, the kind limited to one area such as the underarms, and it is one of the most reliable, high-satisfaction treatments we offer.
At a glance
- Treats
- Excessive underarm sweating
- Visit time
- About one hour
- Results show
- 2 to 5 days, full by 2 weeks
- Results last
- 6 to 12 months
- Comfort
- Numbing cream, little to no discomfort
- Downtime
- None, back to normal same day
Calming the sweat signal at the source
Botox, or botulinum toxin A, works by blocking the nerve signals that tell your sweat glands to activate. It prevents the release of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that signals sweat glands to produce sweat. In hyperhidrosis, those nerves are overactive, so a series of tiny injections calms the signaling and the glands sweat far less.
Because the underarms are a small fraction of the body’s sweat glands, reducing sweat there does not affect your ability to cool down. Your body continues to regulate temperature normally through the rest of your skin.
Why patients love it
- FDA approved for underarm hyperhidrosis
- Patient satisfaction reported up to 98 percent
- Dramatically reduces underarm sweat
- Results in 2 to 5 days, full effect by 2 weeks
- Lasts 6 to 12 months between treatments
- Quick visit with no downtime
Your treatment, step by step
The whole visit takes about an hour, and most patients report little to no discomfort.
Prep and numb
We cleanse the underarms and apply a numbing cream for your comfort. Once it has taken effect, we remove it and map the treatment area.
The injections
Using a very fine needle, we place a series of small injections across each underarm, about twenty sites per side, for a total of 100 units, 50 per armpit.
Back to your day
The treatment takes about an hour start to finish, with no downtime. You can return to your normal routine right away.
How to prepare and care for your skin
Before your treatment
- Shave your underarms about 24 hours before, for both women and men.
- Skip deodorant and antiperspirant the day of your treatment.
- Wear a dark, machine-washable top. A dark tank or camisole can stay on during the treatment.
- Avoid Ginkgo, green tea, and anti-inflammatories for two weeks before to limit bruising.
After your treatment
- Do not massage or press the treated area for 24 hours.
- Gently cleanse the underarms with a mild soap as needed.
- Resume deodorant and shaving after 24 hours.
- Watch for signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or fever, and contact us with any concerns.
Botox treats the symptom of excessive sweating. It does not diagnose or treat any underlying medical cause. If your sweating is generalized rather than focused on the underarms, or started suddenly, we recommend speaking with your physician about the cause.
You may still use deodorant or antiperspirant, since the goal is to bring sweat down to a normal, comfortable level rather than stop it entirely. Side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as minor pain, swelling, bruising, or redness at the injection sites. Botox for hyperhidrosis is not appropriate for everyone, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have certain neuromuscular conditions or allergies to neurotoxins. We review your health history before treatment.
Botox for sweating FAQ
Most people notice results within two to five days, with full results by about two weeks. For most patients, results last six to twelve months before a touch-up is needed. Regular touch-ups help maintain the effect.
We apply numbing cream first and use very fine needles, so most patients report little to no discomfort. The full visit takes about an hour from start to finish.
No, and that is by design. The goal is to bring underarm sweat down to a normal, comfortable level. You may still use deodorant, but most people find their sweating is dramatically reduced.
We place about twenty small injections per underarm, using a total of 100 units, 50 per side. They are done quickly with a very fine needle after numbing.
None. You can return to your normal activities the same day. Just avoid massaging the area and hold off on deodorant and shaving for 24 hours.
Botox is most effective for focal hyperhidrosis limited to the underarms. It is not appropriate for everyone, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have certain neuromuscular conditions. We review your health history before treating. Learn more about the concern on our hyperhidrosis page.
Dry, confident, done in an hour
Excessive underarm sweating is highly treatable. Book an appointment and, in most cases, we assess and treat the same day.
