Botox injections for excessive sweating

At a glance

How it works

Botox blocks a nerve signal that tells sweat glands to work. The effect stays near the injection area and fades as the nerves recover.

Approved and off-label uses

Botox is approved for severe underarm sweating in adults when skin treatments fail. Hand, foot, face, and scalp use is off-label and needs a clinician with experience in those areas.

How treatment works

A clinician gives many small injections across the sweating area. Hands and feet need more injection points than underarms and may need stronger pain control.

When it works and how long it lasts

Sweating may improve within days. The full effect often takes two to four weeks. Underarm results often last four to seven months. Hand and foot results may fade sooner.

Side effects

Bruising and soreness are common. Temporary weakness near the treated area can occur, especially after hand injections. Widespread muscle weakness is rare but needs urgent medical care.

What to consider

• • Type: injections into the skin
• • Schedule: often every 4-7 months for underarms
• • Prescription + clinician administration required
• • FDA-approved use: severe underarm sweating in adults
• • Off-label use: hands, feet, face, and scalp

Side effects and reasons this may not be safe for you

• • Injection-site bruising and tenderness
• • Transient adjacent muscle weakness (uncommon)
• • Rare allergic reactions
• • Theoretical risk of toxin spread (rare with area-specific use)
• • No compensatory sweating (unlike ETS surgery)

Compare this option

• Compare: botox vs miradry →
• Compare: botox vs brella →

Sources for this treatment

Important numbers and approved uses on this page link back to the research or official information that supports them.

Frequently asked

Does Botox for excessive sweating hurt?

Underarm injections often feel like brief pinpricks. Hand and foot injections can hurt more and may need a numbing injection. An underarm visit often takes 15 to 30 minutes.

How is Botox different from miraDry or Brella?

Botox is repeated as the effect fades. miraDry and Brella use heat to reduce sweat-gland activity and may need fewer visits. Compare time, side effects, cost, and how long results last.

Can I get Botox for my hands?

Yes. Hand use is off-label and needs many injections, so a trained clinician and pain control matter. Results may fade sooner than underarm results.

Read next

• Check my sweating →
• Where sweating happens →
• How we research our guides →

Where this fits