Alexandria summers are long and humid, and for some people sweating is not a nuisance but a daily embarrassment: ruined shirts, slippery handshakes, a wet hairline an hour after styling. Botox is the most effective non-surgical treatment for it.
How it works
The same toxin that relaxes a muscle also blocks the nerve signal that tells a sweat gland to produce sweat. Injected superficially across the sweaty area, it switches those glands off for months. The rest of your body regulates temperature as usual; the underarms contribute very little to cooling.
Underarms
The most common. A starch-iodine test maps the sweaty zone, then about 15 to 20 tiny injections per side. Ten minutes, minimal discomfort. Dry within a week, for six to nine months, sometimes a year.
Palms and soles
Very effective but more sensitive; numbing cream or a nerve block is used. A slight weakness of grip for a couple of weeks is possible. Four to six months of effect.
Scalp and face
Hairline, forehead and upper lip sweating respond well with small, carefully placed doses. Popular before weddings and events.
Who it suits
Anyone whose sweating affects their life, after a doctor has ruled out thyroid or other medical causes. Dr. Sara asks about medications and medical history first.
Quick answers
Is it safe to stop sweating under the arms?
Yes. The underarms account for a tiny fraction of the body’s sweat; temperature regulation is unaffected.
Does the sweat go somewhere else?
Compensatory sweating is a known effect of surgery for hyperhidrosis, not of Botox.
How many units?
About 50 units per underarm. Palms need more and the dose is set at the visit.
This guide is general information, not medical advice; your treatment is decided at your consultation with Dr. Sara El Hamawy.