Botox for Excessive Sweating in Dubai: Underarms and Palms

Sweating is normal. Sweat that soaks through your shirt before your meeting starts, marks your clothes at the gym, or makes you avoid shaking hands is not something you have to live with. Excessive sweating has a medical name, hyperhidrosis, and for the underarms and the palms of the hands, Botox is one of the most effective treatments we have.

I treat both men and women for underarm and palm sweating at Apogee Clinic, inside Address Beach Resort in JBR. If you have been looking for a doctor to do your underarm or hand Botox properly, we are here to do it for you.

Underarm Botox: for an active life without sweat marks

Many of the men I see for underarm Botox go to the gym, travel for work and have a very active social life. They do not want sweat to decide which shirt they wear, or to bother them in the middle of a dinner or a presentation. Many women come for the same reason: light-coloured dresses, silk, and photos at events, in a city where it is hot for most of the year.

• Sweat marks on shirts and dresses, even in air-conditioning
• Changing clothes during the day, or carrying a spare shirt
• Antiperspirants that no longer work, or irritate the skin
• Feeling self-conscious lifting your arms at the gym, at work or in photos

Underarm Botox is quick, needs no downtime, and most people notice a clear difference within a few days.

Palm Botox: for people who work with their hands

Sweaty palms are often underestimated, but for some people they affect their work directly. It matters most for people with sensitive, delicate work with their hands: doctors and surgeons, dentists, pilots, pianists and other musicians, artists, and anyone whose hands need to stay dry and steady. A slippery grip on an instrument, a control, a pen or a surgical tool is not a cosmetic problem.

It also affects everyday life: shaking hands, holding a phone, writing on paper, typing, and holding someone's hand. Botox for the palms reduces sweating across the whole hand, including the fingers.

For palms, I plan the dose and the timing carefully with you. If you have an exam, a performance, an operation list or a check flight coming up, we schedule the treatment so that any temporary change in the hand has settled well before it (see side effects below).

What I use, and why the dose matters

I usually use Dysport, and sometimes Relfydess, which is approved in the UAE by the Ministry of Health. I only use botulinum toxin products registered in the UAE.

The most important factor for a long-lasting result is using enough units. Sweat glands sit in the skin itself, so I inject quite a lot of units, very superficially, in a close grid across the whole sweating area. A small dose placed in a few points may reduce sweating for a while, but it wears off quickly. With an adequate amount, results usually last at least 6 to 12 months.

This is also why the price depends on the area and the units: larger underarms, very active sweat glands, or both palms need more product.

How the treatment works

• Consultation. I ask about your sweating, when it started, which areas are affected and whether it happens at night or all over the body. Sweating all over the body, or new night sweats, can have another medical cause (for example thyroid problems or some medications) and needs to be checked first.
• Mapping. I examine the area and mark exactly where you sweat most, so the whole sweating zone is covered.
• Marking and comfort. I mark an injection grid on the skin. Underarms are usually comfortable with numbing cream. Palms are more sensitive, so I use numbing cream, cooling and a gentle technique, and take the time you need.
• Nerve block for palms, when needed. In certain situations I numb the hand with an ultrasound-guided nerve block at the wrist. There is an extra charge for this. The hand feels numb and funny for a few hours afterwards, so you must come with someone who can drive you and help you: I will not do a nerve block if you come alone.
• Injection. Many very small, very superficial injections across the area. Underarms take about 15 to 20 minutes; palms take a little longer.
• Results. Sweating starts to reduce within 2 to 7 days, and the full effect is reached at around two weeks.

Aftercare

• Avoid the gym, sauna, steam room and hot baths for 24 hours.
• Do not massage or rub the treated area on the day.
• Skip deodorant on the treated underarms until the next day.
• You can go back to work straight away.

Side effects

Botox for sweating usually has very few side effects. Small pinpoint marks, mild tenderness or a little bruising can happen and settle within a few days.

Sometimes you may feel a temporary weakness in the arm or the fingers. It is transient and lasts two weeks at most. Because the Botox is placed very superficially in the skin, even if a small amount spreads towards the bigger muscles, the dose that reaches them is not enough to keep them weak for long. This is also why I plan the timing for people who rely on fine hand movements.

Compensatory sweating, where other areas start sweating more, is mainly a problem after surgery for sweating (sympathectomy). It is not a common effect of Botox.

Botox is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for people with certain neuromuscular conditions. I check this at your consultation.

Underarm Botox for hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes painful, recurrent lumps, boils and infections in the underarms and other skin folds. More than half of people with it also report excessive sweating.

For these patients, alongside laser hair reduction, I may recommend underarm Botox to reduce sweating and help reduce the risk of new boils and pimples in the area. A small randomised trial found that botulinum toxin injections improved quality of life and symptoms in hidradenitis suppurativa. The evidence is still early, so I see Botox as an added support, not a replacement for the treatment your dermatologist prescribes.

Price

Botox for excessive sweating at Apogee Clinic JBR starts from AED 2,200 and goes up to AED 3,000, depending on the area treated and the number of units required. I will confirm the exact price at your consultation, once I have seen the area.

Frequently asked questions

Does underarm Botox really work?

Yes. Botox is one of the most effective treatments for underarm sweating, and most people see a large reduction within the first week. How long it lasts depends mainly on using enough units and placing them correctly in the skin.

How long does Botox for sweating last?

With an adequate dose placed superficially, results usually last at least 6 to 12 months. A low dose can wear off much sooner. Palms that work hard every day can lose the effect a little faster than underarms.

How soon will I stop sweating?

Most people notice less sweating within 2 to 7 days. The full effect is reached at about two weeks.

Does it hurt?

Underarm injections are quick and most people find them very tolerable with numbing cream. Palms are more sensitive, so I use numbing cream, cooling and a gentle technique. In certain situations I offer an ultrasound-guided nerve block at an extra charge; you will need someone with you, as the hand feels numb for a few hours.

Is it safe to stop sweating in my underarms?

Yes. The underarms make only a small part of the body's sweat, and the rest of your skin keeps cooling you normally. Treatment is temporary, and the glands work again as the effect wears off.

Will I sweat more in other places?

Compensatory sweating is mainly linked to surgery for sweating, not to Botox. It is not a common effect of Botox injections.

Can Botox in the palms make my hands weak?

Sometimes you may feel a temporary weakness in the fingers or grip. It is transient and lasts two weeks at most, because the injections are very superficial. If your work depends on fine hand movements, we plan the timing around it.

Does underarm Botox reduce body odour?

It often helps, because less sweat leaves less moisture for the bacteria that cause odour. It is not a dedicated treatment for odour, but many patients notice their underarms stay fresher.

Which product do you use, Botox or Dysport?

I usually use Dysport, and sometimes Relfydess. Both are registered in the UAE. Units are not interchangeable between brands, so what matters is the right dose of the product used.

How much does underarm Botox cost in Dubai?

At Apogee Clinic JBR, Botox for sweating costs AED 2,200 to AED 3,000, depending on the area and the number of units needed.

Can I have face Botox at the same time?

Yes. I plan the total dose for the whole visit. I also treat the forehead, frown lines and crow's feet, and the masseter (jaw muscle) under ultrasound guidance for jaw slimming and clenching. See my face and jawline page.

Is Botox for sweating only for women?

No. I treat many men, often people who train at the gym, travel a lot or have a very active work and social life. Underarm and palm sweating affect men and women equally.

About the author. Dr Shiva Faramarzi, MD, is an aesthetic physician at Apogee Clinic, Address Beach Resort, JBR, Dubai, focused on aesthetic, regenerative and longevity medicine. She has trained doctors across the UAE for the past four years.

This page is for education and does not replace an individual medical consultation. Results vary between patients.