By Kelly Wolfe, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP · Updated September 26, 2026
By August in Miami, a lot of people have the same private frustration: soaked shirts before they have even reached the car. If antiperspirant is not cutting it, Botox® for sweating is one of the most effective options available, and for underarm sweating it is FDA-approved. Here is exactly how it works, how long it lasts, and what to expect.
The short version: Botox reduces sweating by temporarily blocking the nerve signal that switches on your sweat glands. It is FDA-approved for severe underarm sweating, results usually last longer than they do for wrinkles (often four to six months and sometimes up to a year), and the treatment itself takes only a few minutes with little downtime.
Does Botox stop sweating?
Yes, Botox significantly reduces sweating in the treated area, and it is FDA-approved specifically for severe underarm sweating, though it manages the condition rather than curing it, so treatment is repeated as the effect wears off.
Excessive sweating that goes beyond what your body needs to cool itself is a real medical condition called hyperhidrosis. When it affects the underarms, onabotulinumtoxinA, the same active ingredient in Botox, is FDA-approved to treat it. Most people see a dramatic reduction in sweating in the treated area, which is why it has become a go-to for anyone whose antiperspirant, even the clinical-strength kind, is no longer enough. It does not permanently switch off your sweat glands, so the results are temporary and the treatment is repeated. You can read more about our underarm sweating treatment in Miami Beach.
How Botox blocks the sweat signal
Botox blocks acetylcholine, the chemical messenger your nerves use to tell sweat glands to produce sweat, so in the treated area the glands stop receiving the signal and sweating drops sharply until the effect gradually wears off.
Sweat glands do not turn on by themselves. A nerve signal, carried by a chemical called acetylcholine, tells them to activate. Botox temporarily interrupts that messenger at the treated site. The gland is still there and still healthy, it simply is not getting the “start sweating” instruction. That is the same mechanism, on a different target, as when Botox relaxes a muscle for wrinkles: it quiets the nerve signal rather than changing the tissue itself. You can see how the same family of products works for other uses in our overview of how neuromodulators work.
Where on the body can Botox treat sweating?
The underarms are the FDA-approved and most common area, but Botox is also used for sweaty palms, soles of the feet, and the forehead or scalp, where those uses are considered off-label and are decided case by case in consultation.
Underarm, or axillary, hyperhidrosis is the classic use and the one with FDA approval. Botox is also used for other areas where excessive sweating interferes with daily life, including the palms, the soles of the feet, and the hairline. Those applications are off-label, which simply means the FDA approval was written for the underarms, and they are considered individually based on your symptoms and goals. Whether an area is a good candidate is something to review during a consultation.
How long does Botox for sweating last?
Botox for sweating usually lasts longer than it does for wrinkles, commonly four to six months and sometimes up to a year, so many people time one treatment to carry them through the hottest, most humid stretch of the Miami year.
Because sweat glands respond a little differently than facial muscles, the anti-sweat effect often outlasts a cosmetic Botox result. Many patients get four to six months, and some get close to a year, though individual results vary. In practice, that means a single well-timed treatment in late spring or early summer can cover the worst of the Miami heat. When the sweating gradually returns, you simply schedule your next session.
How many units are used, and what does Botox for sweating cost?
Treating sweating uses considerably more units than a wrinkle treatment because a larger area is covered, so it is priced accordingly, and your exact number of units and cost are confirmed at your consultation before treatment.
Sweating covers a broad zone, so an underarm treatment uses many more units than a small facial area. That is the main reason it costs more than a typical wrinkle appointment. The precise number of units depends on the size of the area and how much you sweat, and it is measured and quoted in writing before anything is injected. Because the treatment is dosed in units, the fairest way to get an accurate price is an in-person assessment, where your plan is built around your symptoms. You can learn more about pricing and options for Botox in Miami Beach.
Is Botox for sweating safe, and what should you expect?
Botox for underarm sweating is a well-established, quick treatment: a series of tiny injections across the area, minimal downtime, and results that begin within a few days to about two weeks, with side effects usually limited to temporary tenderness or small bruises.
The appointment itself is short. After the area is mapped, a series of small injections is placed just under the skin across the treatment zone. Most people return to normal activity right away. You will typically notice sweating dropping off within a few days, with the full effect by about two weeks. Side effects are usually mild and temporary, such as minor tenderness, redness, or a small bruise at an injection point.
One preparation note: because the treatment involves many small injections, bruising is possible, and some patients ask about pausing blood thinners beforehand. If you take a blood thinner or antiplatelet medication such as aspirin, warfarin, Plavix, Eliquis, or Xarelto, talk with your prescribing physician before changing or stopping it. Do not adjust that medication on your own.
Where to Find Us in Miami Beach
Our office sits on 5th Street at the northern edge of South of Fifth (SoFi), the southern tip of Miami Beach, about three blocks from Ocean Drive. Patients come to us from across Miami Beach, Brickell, Mid-Beach, and Bal Harbour.
1000 5th Street, Suite 414
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Frequently asked questions about Botox for sweating
Does Botox stop sweating?
Yes, Botox significantly reduces sweating in the treated area and is FDA-approved for severe underarm sweating. It manages the condition rather than curing it, so the treatment is repeated as the effect wears off.
How long does Botox last for sweating?
Botox for sweating usually lasts longer than it does for wrinkles, commonly four to six months and sometimes up to a year. Results vary from person to person, and you retreat when the sweating gradually returns.
How many units of Botox are used for underarm sweating?
Underarm treatment uses many more units than a small facial area because it covers a larger zone. The exact number depends on the size of the area and how much you sweat, and it is measured and confirmed at your consultation.
How much does Botox for sweating cost?
Because sweating treatment uses more units than a wrinkle treatment, it is priced higher and set by the number of units your area requires. Your exact cost is quoted in writing before treatment, based on an in-person assessment.
Can you sweat Botox out?
No. Once Botox has settled into the treated area and blocked the nerve signal to the sweat glands, sweating or exercising does not flush it out. The effect simply fades gradually over months as the nerve signaling returns.
Where can you get Botox for sweating in Miami Beach?
You can be treated at South Florida Face and Body on 5th Street in Miami Beach, where nurse practitioner Kelly Wolfe performs the treatment herself. A consultation confirms whether you are a candidate and maps the area to be treated.
Kelly Wolfe
Kelly Wolfe, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, is a Florida-licensed nurse practitioner and the owner of South Florida Face and Body, where she personally performs every Botox treatment, including treatment for underarm sweating. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Miami and a Master of Science in Biochemistry, and she approaches hyperhidrosis as the medical condition it is, mapping each treatment to the patient’s symptoms.
Comfort in the Miami heat is a medical result, not a luxury.
Meet Kelly →Tired of sweating through the Miami summer? A consultation can confirm whether Botox is right for you and how many units your area needs. Book a sweating consultation in Miami Beach.