For those who find regular antiperspirants just not strong enough, there are specialist spray or roll-on products available over-the-counter, which contain aluminium chloride salts, for example Triple Dry. However, these can irritate the skin, or still may not be strong enough, which means that they’re not suitable for everyone. Your family doctor can also prescribe medicated antiperspirants, or oral medication, but again these won’t be right for everyone.

If the above have not been successful in alleviating symptoms, then injections of Botox® can be the solution for many patients. This is an effective and licensed treatment for axillae (armpit) sweating. Botox® blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to the sweat glands, and this eliminates the production of sweat in the treated area. Treatment typically works within a few days, and patients get fantastic relief for 4-7 months (or much longer on occasions).

Botox injections can also be used to treat excessive sweating in other body areas, although this is off license and therefore less well researched. We are happy to discuss your concerns with you and potentially can offer treatment to the forehead/ face/ back/ groin/ under breast areas.

There are several other treatment options and I would always encourage any patient to find out about all potential treatments before coming to a decision. For further information, I recommend patients take a look at the International Hyperhidrosis Society website. This is a non-profit organisation that has a wealth of resources on hyperhidrosis. Because excess sweating often starts in childhood they have even created an award-winning website just for teenagers – take a look here.

Costs for treatment vary according to the number of areas to be treated, but a typical charge for axillary (armpit) hyperhidrosis would be £490 for both armpits, total 100 units Botox, without a starch-iodine test. Traditionally the treatment follows a clinical test where iodine is painted on the armpits and starch applied to identify the area of sweating. In practice, most clinics omit this as the affected area of sweating is generally an eliptical area in the region of the hair follicles. If the test is included the total charge for treatment is £560.

For forehead sweating the cost would be £490 for up to 100 units Botox (with no starch iodine test).

Although we generally offer free initial consultations, this is not the case with those attending to discuss hyperhidrosis.  Consultations for this condition involve an assessment of your history and a discussion regarding other treatment options, along with details relating to Botox treatment. For this reason, we make a charge of £75 for a 20-minute hyperhidrosis consultation, though this is offset against treatment charges should you proceed at a later date. This initial consultation can be undertaken over the telephone, by arrangement, if this would be more convenient.

Patient experience

Although we have a dedicated page for general client testimonials, below you will see comments from a patient I have treated for hyperhidrosis. Click on the extract to see the comments in full.