Botox (Botulinum toxin) injections are a very successful treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive perspiration from the armpits).

The procedure involves first mapping the exact area in the armpit where the sweating occurs. To do this one paints the armpit with iodine and then applies a talc. When perspiration occurs the area is stained black, and this area can be marked out with a felt tip pen. It is commonplace for sweating to not occur uniformly throughout the entire armpit. Sometimes the excessive perspiration can occur from quite a localised area, which literally runs like a tap. It is important to identify the area where the sweat glands are overactive so that this area or areas can be treated (there is no point in injecting Botox into areas of armpit that are not going to perspire and which are not contributing to the problem).

We strongly advise people having this procedure to not wear their best white blouse or shirt for the occasion, in case it is stained with the iodine or black dye despite our best attempts to clean it all off following the procedure!

Once the area of perspiration is mapped out then we draw a grid pattern on the armpit and then inject a tiny amount of Botox into the skin at each point in the grid. It is common to have 20 injections into each armpit, but the needle that is used is so tiny that most people find that the procedure is quite tolerable. Sweating usually ceases after a couple of days, and the benefit may last several months or sometimes even a year or more.

Dr Judd does not use Botox to treat frown or forehead lines (or other facial lines).