When summer arrives, many people start choosing shirt colors around the sweat marks that show under the arms. If deodorants or antiperspirants such as Driclor have not been satisfying, underarm Botox — known in Korea as gyeottam (underarm sweat) injections — may be worth considering. Here is how it works, what the appointment looks like, and what to know before deciding.
Where deodorants and antiperspirants fall short
Deodorants often do little more than mask odor, and antiperspirants prescribed for excessive sweating, such as Driclor, have to be applied and washed off daily — a routine that can also bring stinging or dryness. The heaviest burden is simply having to repeat it all summer long. That is the point at which underarm Botox, which covers a set period after a single session, enters the comparison.
How underarm Botox works
Botox on the forehead, glabella, or jawline is familiar to most people, while Botox in the underarms still sounds unusual. Using botulinum toxin to reduce sweating, however, is a long-established approach. The toxin is injected into the skin of the underarm so that sweat gland activity is suppressed for a period of time, and a single session is generally reported to last several months. How long it lasts and how much sweating is reduced vary from person to person. Some people ask about compensatory sweating in other areas; in practice, most go about their daily lives without significant discomfort.
What the appointment looks like at Skinique Clinic
You first change into a sleeveless top or gown provided at the clinic, and numbing cream is applied generously to the underarm area. In keeping with our policy of using genuine products in full doses, the Botox product to be used is shown to you directly and the dose is prepared in front of you.
The injections are done by hand, and not as a few scattered points: four syringes, two per side, are used to lay the product evenly and densely across the whole underarm. Even with the same product, spacing and distribution change how satisfied people are with the result. Right afterwards, small raised marks appear along the closely spaced injection points, but they settle within a few days, so there is no need to worry.
Before you decide
Underarm Botox involves no incision and takes only a short time, but the appropriate dose depends on how much you sweat and on the condition of your skin, so it is worth having your situation assessed in a consultation beforehand. Detailed pricing is available on the price guide.
Wrapping Up
If applying an antiperspirant every day has felt like a chore, or the irritation has been hard to tolerate, underarm Botox — one session covering a set period of reduced sweating — is worth looking into. Results and duration vary from person to person, so if you would like to know whether it suits your own underarm sweating, ask us through a chat consultation about your situation.
This article was written by Dr. Park Tae-hyung, Chief Director. He is the chief director of Skinique Clinic and serves as academic director of the Korean Society for Laser Dermatology and Trichology. First published June 15, 2021 · Last reviewed August 24, 2026
This article provides general medical information. Skin conditions and responses to treatment vary from person to person. Please decide whether and how to be treated in consultation with a physician.