Hyperhidrosis
(excessive sweating)
from £550
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is a condition characterised by sweating that exceeds what the body requires for thermoregulation. It is not a symptom of anxiety, poor hygiene, or any underlying systemic disease in most cases, though secondary hyperhidrosis, caused by an identifiable medical condition, does exist and should always be ruled out during your consultation.
Primary hyperhidrosis, by far the more common presentation, is caused by overactivity of the eccrine sweat glands, driven by the sympathetic nervous system. The eccrine glands are activated by acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that signals the gland to produce sweat. In people with hyperhidrosis, this signalling is excessive and largely unrelated to temperature or physical exertion. The condition tends to run in families, often begins in adolescence or early adulthood, and is focal, meaning it typically affects specific areas rather than the entire body. The most commonly affected sites are the axillae (underarms), palms, and soles of the feet.
How Does Botox Treat Excessive Sweating?
Botulinum toxin works by temporarily blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction. In aesthetic treatments, this mechanism relaxes muscle activity. In hyperhidrosis treatment, the same mechanism is applied to the eccrine sweat glands: when acetylcholine cannot bind to the gland's receptors, the gland does not receive the signal to produce sweat.
The effect is localised to the injection site. Botox for hyperhidrosis does not reduce sweating elsewhere on the body, and it does not interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature overall. The eccrine glands in the treated area simply stop responding to the nerve signal, and sweating in that zone reduces dramatically.
FAQs
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No. The eccrine glands treated represent a very small fraction of the total eccrine gland population on the body. The body has approximately two to four million eccrine glands distributed across the entire skin surface. Treating those concentrated in the underarms, palms, and soles does not meaningfully impair thermoregulation. You will still sweat normally elsewhere on the body when your temperature rises.
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Hyperhidrosis treatment for underarms will not increase compensatory sweating (in different areas of the body). You will continue to perspire (sweat) as usual everywhere else.
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There is no threshold you need to reach before treatment becomes appropriate. If excessive sweating is affecting your daily life, your confidence, your work, your relationships, or your mental health, it is worth having a conversation with Dr Karwal.
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Most patients experience a dramatic reduction in sweating, typically in the range of 80 to 90 percent. A complete cessation of all sweating is possible but not universal. What virtually all patients report is that the level of residual sweating, if any, is clinically and practically insignificant compared to their pre-treatment baseline.
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The hyperhidrosis treatment is available at our Mayfair clinic, located at 15 Dover Street, London W1S 4LP, in the heart of Central London. We welcome patients from across London and beyond. Click the Book Now button below to schedule your consultation at Karwal Aesthetics and take the first step towards a smile you'll love.
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It depends on the treatment area. Underarm injections are generally well tolerated and most patients describe the sensation as a mild sting. Treating the hands and feet is more uncomfortable, as both areas are more sensitive and require more injection points. Foot treatment in particular can be quite sore, and we recommend bringing someone with you to your appointment so you have support getting home safely afterwards.
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Results are temporary. Most patients notice the first signs of sweating returning between three and six months after treatment.