Is Botulinum Toxin (Botulinum toxin) an Effective Treatment for Excessive Sweating?

Botulinum toxin is an effective method for treating excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). This toxin prevents the release of a chemical called acetylcholine, which is secreted from the nerve endings that enable the sweat glands to function. Thus, the sweat glands are temporarily disabled and sweating decreases.

How Does It Work?

Botulinum toxin stops the signals that initiate sweating by affecting the nerve endings. It has been used in the treatment of excessive sweating since 1994 and has been proven to be effective especially in areas such as the armpits, palms and soles.

Things to Consider Before Application

Before starting the treatment, the following conditions are checked:

Pregnancy
Muscle diseases (e.g. myasthenia gravis)
Blood clotting problems
Use of certain antibiotics (aminoglycoside and macrolide groups)
Treatment Process

Underarm Sweating:
50-100 units of botulinum toxin are used for each underarm.
Injections are made at 2 cm intervals to be evenly distributed in the area.
Up to 90% reduction in sweating is achieved within 7 days after treatment.
The duration of effect usually varies between 3-7 months, but this period can extend to 15-29 months when high doses are used.


Palm Sweating:
100-165 units of toxin are used for each hand.
Injections are made at a total of 26 points at 1 cm intervals.
Since the treatment can be painful, the pain is reduced with methods such as cold application, numbing creams or local nerve blockade.
The duration of effect usually varies between 4-12 months.
Foot Sole Sweating:
Treatment on the sole of the foot is applied less frequently due to its pain.
Nevertheless, treatment can be done with similar methods and doses.
Side Effects and Precautions

Temporary Muscle Weakness: In palm treatment, weakness may be seen especially in the muscles around the thumb. This condition usually improves within 3-6 weeks.
Injection Pain: Pain can be reduced by using fine-tipped needles and dividing a small amount of toxin.
Hematoma (Bruising): Small bruises may occur at the injection sites, but this condition is temporary.
Antibody Development: In repeated and high-dose applications, the body may develop immunity to the toxin. To reduce this risk, it is recommended to leave longer intervals between treatments.
Success and Long-Term Effects

Botulinum toxin can reduce sweating by up to 90%, and this effect usually lasts for several months. With repeated injections, long-term sweating control can be achieved. For example, it has been observed that the effect lasts for 2 years or more with high-dose treatments.

Botulinum toxin is an effective, safe method for treating excessive sweating, with minimal side effects. When applied with the appropriate dose and technique, it can significantly improve quality of life.