Skin & Aesthetics · Harley Street
Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Treatment that reduces sweating in the underarms, hands or feet, from £450, assessed and provided by a GMC-registered prescriber.
Finance available on the full cost, 0% APR up to £2,000 with Klarna (subject to status)
Hyperhidrosis is sweating well beyond what the body needs to regulate temperature. It is far more common than most people realise, it has nothing to do with hygiene or fitness, and it is not something you have brought on yourself. For many people it is genuinely limiting: choosing clothes around it, avoiding handshakes, keeping spare shirts at work.
It responds well to treatment. The same injectable approach used for expression lines can be used to reduce the activity of the sweat glands in a treated area, and the effect on day-to-day life is often more significant than patients expect.
What causes excessive sweating?
Primary hyperhidrosis, the commonest form, has no underlying disease behind it. The nerves that signal the sweat glands are simply overactive, it often runs in families, and it usually starts in adolescence or early adulthood. It typically affects specific areas, most often the underarms, palms, soles or face.
Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by something else: thyroid problems, diabetes, infection, menopause or certain medications. It tends to be more generalised and can begin later in life or at night. That distinction matters, because secondary hyperhidrosis needs the underlying cause investigated rather than the symptom treated.
Which areas can be treated?
The underarms are the most commonly treated area and generally the most straightforward. Palms and soles can also be treated, though these are more sensitive and are discussed carefully beforehand. Facial and scalp sweating are treated in some cases.
Which areas suit you, and whether treatment is appropriate at all, is decided at your consultation.
What does treatment involve?
After assessment, a series of very small injections is placed across the affected area to reduce the signal reaching the sweat glands there. An underarm treatment usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Most people describe brief stinging rather than pain.
You can return to normal activity straight away, avoiding strenuous exercise, saunas and hot baths for the rest of the day.
How soon does it work, and how long does it last?
Most people notice a reduction within a few days to a fortnight. The effect is temporary and wears off gradually over a period of months, varying between individuals and with the area treated. Sweating then returns to how it was; the treatment does not change the underlying condition.
Sweating elsewhere on the body is unaffected, and the body continues to regulate its temperature normally.
What should I try first?
Clinical-strength antiperspirants containing aluminium chloride are usually the first step and help a proportion of people. If you have not tried one properly, applied at night to dry skin, it is worth doing before considering anything else.
Where those have not worked, or where sweating is significantly affecting your work or social life, injectable treatment is a reasonable next step. If your history suggests secondary hyperhidrosis, we will want that investigated first.
Hyperhidrosis treatment pricing
Your consultation is free. Treatment is provided only where a prescriber judges it appropriate.
Perspiration reduction
Best value£450
Per treated area, assessed individually
This is a prescription-only treatment provided after individual assessment by a qualified prescriber. It cannot be purchased online or supplied on request. Results and duration vary between individuals. This page is information, not a recommendation to treat.
Book a free consultationFrequently asked questions
How much does hyperhidrosis treatment cost?
Perspiration reduction is £450 per treated area at our Harley Street clinic, with a free consultation beforehand. Treatment is only provided where a prescriber assesses it as appropriate, and the plan is confirmed in person.
How long does treatment for excessive sweating last?
Most people notice a reduction within a few days to two weeks. The effect is temporary and wears off gradually over a period of months, varying between individuals and with the area treated. It is a maintained result rather than a cure.
Is excessive sweating a medical condition?
Yes. Hyperhidrosis is a recognised condition, not a hygiene issue. Primary hyperhidrosis has no underlying disease and often runs in families; secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by another condition or medication and should be investigated.
Will I stop sweating altogether?
No, and you would not want to. Only the treated area is affected, sweating elsewhere continues normally, and your body regulates its temperature as usual. The aim is to bring one problem area back to a manageable level.
Does treating my underarms make me sweat elsewhere?
Significant compensatory sweating elsewhere is not a typical feature of this treatment, unlike some surgical approaches. Any concerns about that are discussed at your assessment.
What should I try before injections?
A clinical-strength antiperspirant containing aluminium chloride, applied at night to dry skin, helps many people and is usually the sensible first step. Injectable treatment is a reasonable next option where that has not worked.
Speak to our team
Every treatment begins with a free, no-obligation consultation at 19 Harley Street. We assess you in person and give honest advice on what suits you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Sumeyye Yuksel, MBBS · 5 September 2026