Published 18 September 2026 · Updated 2 October 2026
Sweating that soaks a shirt by 10am is a medical condition, not a character flaw
Primary hyperhidrosis affects a specific area, runs in families, starts young and has nothing to do with hygiene or nerves. It has a treatment ladder that begins with a prescription antiperspirant and moves to injections when that is not enough. The first step is establishing which kind of sweating you have.
DHA-licensed doctors · Bluewaters Island 6, Dubai · daily 10:00–22:00
- Session
- 30–45 minutes
- Anaesthetic
- Topical cream or cooling
- Downtime
- Minimal; avoid heat for 24 hours
- Effect starts
- 2–7 days
- Price
- from 3600 AED per treatment
Primary or secondary — the distinction that decides everything
Primary (focal) hyperhidrosis
Sweating limited to specific areas: underarms, palms, soles, face and scalp. It is usually symmetrical, starts in adolescence or earlier, often runs in the family, and stops during sleep. Nothing else is wrong. This is the form that responds well to the treatments described here.
Secondary hyperhidrosis
Sweating that is generalised rather than focal, or that started recently in adulthood, or that happens at night. Causes include thyroid disorders, infections, diabetes, menopause, some medicines and, less commonly, more serious conditions. The right response is a medical work-up, not an injection — treating the sweating alone leaves the reason unexamined.
Night sweats, unexplained weight loss, fever or fatigue alongside the sweating are reasons to see a physician promptly.
In this climate the threshold is different. Everyone sweats in Dubai from June to September, and that is thermoregulation working correctly. The question is whether sweating happens out of proportion to heat and effort — in air conditioning, in the morning, in cool weather — and whether it interferes with work, clothing, handshakes or a phone screen. That functional impact is what makes it worth treating.
The treatment ladder
| Step | What it involves | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Topical antiperspirants | Aluminium chloride preparations, applied at night to dry skin; stronger formulations are prescription-only | First line for underarms. Cheap, and effective for many people; irritation is the usual reason for stopping |
| Botulinum toxin injections | Prescription treatment injected into the affected area to interrupt the nerve signal to sweat glands; dosing set by the doctor after assessment | When topical treatment is insufficient. The main option offered at this clinic |
| Oral medication | Systemic prescription medicines that reduce sweating body-wide | Prescribed and monitored by a physician; not offered here |
| Microwave and surgical options | Device-based destruction of sweat glands, or surgical sympathectomy | Specialist referral. Neither is performed at this clinic |
Prescription treatments are administered only after an in-person assessment by a licensed doctor. Prices and protocols are on the hyperhidrosis treatment page; underarm treatment starts at 3600 AED, checked 18 September 2026.
What the injection treatment involves
The area is mapped, cooled or numbed with topical cream, and a series of small injections is placed across it in a grid. Underarms take about half an hour. Palms are more uncomfortable and are discussed separately, because the anatomy there also involves grip strength.
The effect is not immediate: sweating reduces over two to seven days and the full effect reads at around two weeks. It then wears off gradually, and the treatment is repeated on a schedule the doctor sets after seeing how you respond. It is a control measure, not a cure — the condition itself does not go away.
What this does not do. Treating underarms does not stop sweating elsewhere. Compensatory sweating is a recognised issue after surgical sympathectomy; after focal injection of a limited area it is not usually reported, and what to expect in your case is discussed before treatment. Deodorant masks smell; antiperspirant and injections reduce the sweat itself. Those are different products for different problems.
Practical measures that help alongside
- Apply antiperspirant at night on completely dry skin — that is when sweat ducts are least active and the ingredient has time to work
- Natural fibres and loose cuts in summer; underarm shields for critical days
- Note whether caffeine, spicy food or specific medicines act as triggers for you
- For palms, plan around the situations that matter — presentations, driving, exams — rather than the whole week
None of this replaces treatment for moderate or severe hyperhidrosis. It reduces how much the treatment has to carry.
Who this suits, and who should see a physician first
Injection treatment suits you if
- Sweating is focal, symmetrical and disproportionate to heat and effort
- Antiperspirants have been tried and are not enough
- It interferes with work, clothing or daily activity
- You accept that the treatment is repeated rather than permanent
Investigate first if
- The sweating is generalised, or happens at night
- It started recently in adulthood
- It comes with fever, weight loss, palpitations or fatigue
- You have a neuromuscular disorder
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
This list is not exhaustive. Medicines you take, thyroid conditions and previous reactions to injectable treatment all change the plan and must be declared. Final suitability is determined by a licensed doctor at an in-person assessment.
Half an hour, and the summer wardrobe changes
Most patients come for underarms and describe the difference in terms of clothes they stopped avoiding. The assessment confirms the type of sweating first, then maps the area and quotes the treatment.
Questions people ask
How much does excessive sweating treatment cost in Dubai?
At MED YU MED, underarm treatment starts at 3600 AED per session and larger protocols are quoted after assessment, since the dose depends on the area and the severity. Current figures are on the hyperhidrosis treatment page. Prescription treatment is quoted in person, not over the phone.
How long does the effect last?
It builds over the first week, reads fully at around two weeks and then reduces gradually. The repeat interval differs between patients and between areas, and the doctor sets it after seeing your response to the first treatment rather than quoting a fixed number in advance.
Is it safe to stop sweating in one area?
Sweat glands cover the whole body surface, so focal treatment of the underarms is not expected to affect overall thermoregulation. This is why focal treatment is used for focal hyperhidrosis and why generalised sweating is handled differently, by a physician looking for a cause.
Does it work for sweaty palms and feet?
These areas can be treated, and they are discussed separately at the assessment: injections there are more uncomfortable, and in the palms there is a temporary effect on grip strength to consider. Whether it fits your case depends on what your hands need to do at work.
Can I use antiperspirant afterwards?
Yes, once the skin has settled, although many patients find they no longer need it in the treated area. Avoid heat, saunas and intense exercise for the first 24 hours, and follow the specific aftercare you are given.
Why do I sweat in air conditioning?
That is the pattern that suggests primary focal hyperhidrosis: the sweating is not driven by temperature. Emotional triggers and anticipation set it off, which is exactly why it affects presentations, interviews and handshakes. It is a condition of the sweat response, not a reaction to the climate.
Do you offer microwave-based or surgical treatment?
No. Microwave-based gland destruction and surgical sympathectomy are performed elsewhere under different licences. If your case calls for them, the doctor will tell you at the consultation instead of selling repeat treatments that do not fit.
What are the side effects?
Tenderness, small bruises and short-lived redness at the injection points are the usual ones. Temporary weakness in nearby muscles is possible where the anatomy is close, which is the main consideration for palms. Rarer effects are explained and consented in person before treatment. Report spreading redness, increasing pain, blistering, fever or any difficulty swallowing or breathing to the clinic immediately; outside our hours, go to the nearest emergency department or call 998.
Related reading
Medical disclaimer: this page is for information and does not replace a consultation. Generalised sweating, night sweats or sweating that began recently in adulthood need assessment by a physician, since they can indicate an underlying condition. Prescription treatments are administered only after an in-person assessment by a licensed doctor.
License statement: MEDYUMED MEDICAL CLINIC LLC operates under DHA License 6589480, Bluewaters Island 6, Dubai. Surgical and microwave-based treatments for hyperhidrosis are not performed at the clinic.
Individual results caveat: the degree of reduction and the interval between treatments vary from person to person. No result is guaranteed, and treatment controls the symptom rather than curing the condition.
Sources
- Protocol, areas and dosing approach: MED YU MED hyperhidrosis treatment service page.
- Assessment and injection practice: MED YU MED botulinum therapy page.
- Prices: MED YU MED price list, checked 18 September 2026.
- Diagnosis, the treatment ladder and compensatory sweating: American Academy of Dermatology, Hyperhidrosis: diagnosis and treatment; NHS, Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
Treat the sweating, and check what is behind it
Underarm treatment from 3600 AED, effect building over the first week. Book the assessment: it separates focal hyperhidrosis from the kind that belongs to a physician, and only then quotes the treatment.
MEDYUMED MEDICAL CLINIC LLC · DHA License 6589480 · open daily 10:00–22:00. Outside our hours, urgent problems go to the nearest emergency department or 998.
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