Hyperhidrosis · Sweaty Armpits · Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Excessive Sweating & Hyperhidrosis Treatment for sweaty armpits, hands and feet in Brisbane
Sweating through your shirts even on cool days? Our specialist dermatologists treat severe underarm sweating in our Mount Gravatt rooms, with a Medicare rebate for eligible patients. If you're eligible, treatment is usually done on the same day as your consultation. We also treat sweaty hands, feet and face.
Treatment for both underarms: $495 after Medicare rebate*
Initial specialist consultation required: from $307 after Medicare rebate (with a GP referral; fee $395) · No referral needed to book · See all fees
*For eligible patients with severe underarm sweating. The full fee is $746. Medicare rebates $251.05 to your bank account after payment, leaving $495 out of pocket. Medicare criteria apply, including being 12 or older, having already tried a clinical-strength antiperspirant, and no more than 3 rebated treatments in 12 months, at least 4 months apart. An initial specialist consultation is required first ($395; $88.40 Medicare rebate with a valid GP referral). Not eligible for Medicare? We quote your fee in writing before treatment.
A dermatologist-led clinic. Excessive sweating is assessed by a specialist dermatologist, who looks for an underlying cause before recommending any treatment.
Meet our teamExcessive Sweating Treatment at a Glance
Three simple steps
How We Treat Severe Underarm Sweating
Already tried a clinical-strength antiperspirant and still sweating through your clothes? You don't need to keep putting up with it. You may qualify for in-clinic treatment with a Medicare rebate.
Specialist consultation
Your dermatologist confirms the type of sweating, checks for an underlying cause and confirms whether you meet the Medicare criteria. Bring a GP referral for the Medicare rebate on your consult.
Same-day treatment for both underarms
The first-line option in treatment guidelines for severe underarm sweating, usually done at the same visit, in our rooms, by your dermatologist. $495 out of pocket after the Medicare rebate for eligible patients.*
Simple top-ups
Results usually last 3 to 6 months. When sweating returns, book a top-up. Medicare covers up to 3 treatments a year, at least 4 months apart. Hands, feet and face have their own options.
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
The short answer: hyperhidrosis is sweating far beyond what your body needs to cool down. It's a recognised medical condition, not a hygiene problem, and it can be treated. Most people get long-lasting control with the right treatment and simple top-up visits.
Sweat may soak through your shirt on a cool day, drip from your hands onto paper or your phone, or make your feet slide in your shoes. Many people change clothes at lunch, avoid shaking hands, or only wear dark colours to hide the marks.
It's common. About 3 in every 100 Australians have it, according to Healthdirect. Yet many people never mention it to a doctor because they assume nothing can be done. It can.
We see people from Mount Gravatt and across Brisbane's southside, including Holland Park, Carindale and Sunnybank, for excessive sweating treatment.
Signs it's more than normal sweating
- Sweat drips or soaks through without heat or exercise
- It happens at least once a week
- It affects both sides, such as both palms
- It started in childhood or your teens
- Others in your family have it
- It gets in the way of work, study or relationships
Two different problems
What Causes Excessive Sweating?
There are two main types. Working out which one you have decides what happens next.
Primary (focal) hyperhidrosis
The sweat glands are normal, but the nerves that switch them on are overactive in particular areas: the underarms, palms, soles, or face and scalp. It usually starts in childhood or the teenage years, affects both sides evenly, often runs in families and tends to settle during sleep.
There is no underlying illness. Most people we see for excessive sweating have this type.
Secondary hyperhidrosis
The sweating is caused by something else. Common causes include some medicines, menopause and other hormonal changes, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, infections and some other medical conditions.
It is more likely if sweating is all over the body, starts suddenly in adult life, affects one side only, or happens at night. Treating the cause often settles the sweating.
When Should Excessive Sweating Be Checked Urgently?
Most excessive sweating is primary hyperhidrosis and isn't dangerous. But sweating can be a sign of another health problem, so see your GP promptly if:
- Sweating is all over your body, or started suddenly
- You wake drenched at night
- It comes with fever, weight loss, a racing heart or feeling unwell
- It only affects one side of your body
- It started after a new medicine
Call 000 if sweating comes with chest pain, light-headedness or nausea.
At DERM Skin Specialists, every hyperhidrosis consultation starts with these questions. If something points to a secondary cause, we arrange tests or work with your GP before treating the sweat itself.
Dr Mitch on Sweating Treatment
"Excess sweating can be a mild annoyance, or it can be genuinely disruptive. The first step is working out what type of sweating you have."
"Sometimes sweating is a symptom of an underlying medical issue. If you skip that step and go straight to a procedure, you can miss the real driver."
From Dr Mitch's own notes on hyperhidrosis.
Assess first. Then treat.
What Happens at a Hyperhidrosis Consultation?
From your first visit to your reviews, here's what to expect when you see a dermatologist for excessive sweating.
History and examination
We ask where you sweat, when it started, what sets it off, whether it happens at night, your family history, your medicines and your general health. We also ask how much it interferes with daily life, using a simple 1 to 4 scale that dermatologists use to rate severity.
A step-by-step plan
Your plan is matched to each area and to what you've already tried. You get clear instructions, an explanation of any Medicare criteria, and the cost of any treatment in writing before you start.
Sweating Treatment and Review
We review how you've responded, step up or change treatment if needed, and plan longer-term control. Sweating often changes with seasons, stress and age, so the plan does too.
Options for every area
How Is Hyperhidrosis Treated?
Treatment is matched to where you sweat and how severe it is. For severe sweaty armpits, in-clinic treatment is the first-line option in treatment guidelines.
Clinical-strength antiperspirants
- Usually tried first, and part of the Medicare criteria
- Pharmacy products, no prescription needed
- Work well when applied the right way
- Irritation limits use for some people
Iontophoresis
- For sweaty hands and feet
- A home device using tap water and a mild current
- Needs regular sessions, then maintenance
- We can advise on whether it suits you
In-clinic specialist treatment
- First-line in guidelines for severe underarm sweating
- Performed in our rooms by a dermatologist
- Both underarms $495 after Medicare rebate*
- Benefits, side effects and costs explained first
If sweating is severe and the first steps haven't helped, a dermatologist may recommend in-clinic specialist treatment. These are assessed at your consultation, where we explain what's suitable for your area, the likely benefit, the side effects and the cost.
Everyday measures help alongside any treatment: breathable natural fabrics or moisture-wicking sportswear, absorbent underarm pads or undershirts, spare socks, and noticing your own triggers such as heat, spicy food, caffeine or stress.
How Are Sweaty Hands and Feet Treated?
Sweaty palms and soles are harder to treat than underarms. The skin is thicker and more sensitive, and response is more variable. Most people still get meaningful improvement with a plan that suits their work and lifestyle.
How Iontophoresis Works
You rest your hands or feet in shallow trays of tap water while a device passes a mild electrical current through the water. It's thought to block the sweat ducts for a while. Sessions usually take about 20 to 30 minutes, several times a week at first, then about once a week or less to keep sweating down.
Home devices can be bought, so once you know the routine you do it yourself. We can advise on whether it suits you and how to use it. It isn't suitable if you are pregnant, have a pacemaker, or have metal implants in the path of the current. Expect tingling and some dryness.
For your feet
Use antiperspirant on the soles at night, wear moisture-wicking socks and change them during the day, and rotate shoes so each pair dries out for 24 hours. Damp feet are prone to odour, fungal infection and a bacterial infection called pitted keratolysis, which we can treat.
Small things that help hands
- Keep a cloth handy before handshakes
- Use grip aids for sport and the gym
- Try antiperspirant on the palms at night
Sweaty Armpits: How Is Underarm Sweating Treated?
Sweaty armpits, also called axillary hyperhidrosis, are what we see most often, and the most predictable area to treat.
If a clinical-strength antiperspirant hasn't controlled it, or your skin can't tolerate it, in-clinic treatment with your dermatologist is the next step. Both underarms are treated in the one visit, usually the same day as your consultation, for $495 out of pocket after the Medicare rebate if you're eligible.* All our dermatologists are approved to provide Medicare-rebated treatment for severe underarm sweating.
What About Facial and Scalp Sweating?
Sweat running down the forehead or through the hair is often triggered by heat, stress, exercise or hot and spicy food. It can be very visible, so it often affects confidence at work.
Some antiperspirants can be used carefully on the forehead and hairline, away from the eyes. Prescription treatments may be considered where appropriate. Sweating on one side of the face when eating can follow surgery or injury near the salivary glands, or come with diabetes, so it's worth having checked.
What to Expect on the Day
- Consultation first. Your dermatologist confirms the type of sweating, checks for an underlying cause and confirms your Medicare eligibility.
- Treatment the same day. If you're eligible, both underarms are usually treated at the same visit, in our rooms.
- Pay on the day. Medicare sends your rebate straight back to your bank account.
- Results usually last 3 to 6 months. When sweating returns, book a top-up. Medicare covers up to 3 treatments in 12 months, at least 4 months apart.
- Hands, feet and face are assessed and priced separately.
Can Hyperhidrosis Cause Other Skin Problems?
Yes. Skin that stays damp for hours breaks down more easily, and germs thrive in warm, wet folds. Treating the sweating often helps these problems too.
- Odour. Sweat itself has little smell. Odour comes from bacteria breaking it down, especially in the underarms and feet.
- Fungal infections such as tinea between the toes and in skin folds.
- Pitted keratolysis. Small pits on the soles, often with a strong smell, caused by bacteria in damp skin.
- Dermatitis. Irritated, itchy skin from constant moisture and friction, or from products used to manage sweat. More on dermatitis.
Excessive sweating can also affect confidence, work and relationships. That alone is a good reason to seek treatment.
Tell us if you notice
- A rash in the underarms or groin
- Peeling or itchy skin between the toes
- Small pits or a strong smell on the soles
- Stinging from antiperspirant
- Sweating that has changed recently
Can Teenagers Get Treatment for Excessive Sweating?
Yes. Primary hyperhidrosis often starts in childhood or the teenage years, and it can make school, exams, sport and social life hard.
Treatment for teenagers usually starts with antiperspirants used properly and practical changes at school, with iontophoresis for hands and feet. Some treatments have minimum age limits, which we explain at the consultation. A parent or guardian attends with anyone under 18.
Dr Emily Shao sees children and teenagers as well as adults. Meet Dr Shao.
What Are the Risks of Treatment? And How We Reduce Them
Every treatment has trade-offs. Here are the main ones and what we do about each.
Common, Short-Term Side Effects of Sweating Treatment
- Stinging or itch from antiperspirant. We check how you're applying it, adjust how often, and treat any irritation.
- Tingling and dry skin from iontophoresis. Lower settings, moisturiser, and covering small cuts with petroleum jelly help.
- Results wear off over time. We plan simple top-up treatments and review you.
- Less improvement than hoped. Hands and feet respond more variably. We step up or change treatment rather than leave you stuck.
Less Common Sweating Treatment Risks
- Missing an underlying cause. A full history comes first, with tests if anything points to one.
- Side effects from prescription treatments. We explain them before you start and review you afterwards.
- Surgery is rarely needed. If it ever is, we explain the trade-offs, including compensatory sweating, before any referral.
- Skin infections in damp skin. We look for them at every visit and treat them promptly.
If something isn't right, call us. Phone 07 3487 1414 if a rash spreads, skin blisters or breaks down, or you feel unwell. Outside hours, see your GP or go to an emergency department.
How Much Does Excessive Sweating Treatment Cost in Brisbane?
Both underarms: $495 after Medicare rebate.* You pay the fee on the day and Medicare sends the rebate straight back to your bank account.
- Initial specialist consultation: $395, or $306.60 after the $88.40 Medicare rebate with a valid GP referral
- In-clinic treatment for both underarms: $746, or $495 after the $251.05 Medicare rebate for eligible patients
- Top-up treatments: $495 each after the Medicare rebate, up to 3 times in 12 months
- Hands, feet, face and scalp: private fees, quoted in writing after your assessment
*For eligible patients with severe underarm sweating. The full fee is $746. Medicare rebates $251.05 to your bank account after payment, leaving $495 out of pocket. Medicare criteria apply, including being 12 or older, having already tried a clinical-strength antiperspirant, and no more than 3 rebated treatments in 12 months, at least 4 months apart. An initial specialist consultation is required first ($395; $88.40 Medicare rebate with a valid GP referral). Not eligible for Medicare? We quote your fee in writing before treatment. See all fees.
Is Sweating Treatment Covered by Medicare?
Yes, for severe underarm sweating when you meet the criteria. You may qualify if:
- You're 12 or older
- Your underarm sweating is severe
- You've already tried a clinical-strength antiperspirant, and it didn't work or irritated your skin
- You haven't had a rebated treatment in the past 4 months (up to 3 in any 12 months)
With a valid GP referral, Medicare also rebates part of your specialist consultation. You don't need a referral to book, but without one there's no rebate on the consult. Treatment for hands, feet, face and scalp is private.
Bring to Your Hyperhidrosis Consultation
- A GP referral, for the Medicare rebate
- A list of your medicines
- Products you've tried and how you used them
- When and where you sweat most
- Any family history of sweating
Your dermatologist
Your Hyperhidrosis Dermatologist: Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD
Specialist Dermatologist · Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Dr Mitch founded DERM Skin Specialists and treats medical and cosmetic skin conditions. Excessive sweating is assessed by a specialist dermatologist, who confirms the type of sweating, checks for underlying causes and plans treatment step by step.
- Specialist dermatologist (FACD)Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists
- Assessment before treatmentLooks for the cause, not just the sweat
- Teaches dermatologists and registrarsLectures in Australia and Asia
Mount Gravatt, Brisbane
Hyperhidrosis Treatment in Mount Gravatt
DERM Skin Specialists is at 2/1437 Logan Road, Mount Gravatt, about 15 minutes' drive from the Brisbane CBD, with free parking onsite. Patients come from Upper Mount Gravatt, Mansfield, Wishart, Eight Mile Plains, Greenslopes and across Brisbane's southside.
Common Questions
Excessive Sweating and Sweaty Armpits: Common Questions
Can I be treated at my first appointment?
Usually, yes. If you're eligible, both underarms are usually treated on the same day as your consultation.
How much does treatment for sweaty armpits cost?
Treatment for both underarms is $495 out of pocket after the Medicare rebate for eligible patients. The full fee is $746, and Medicare rebates $251.05 to your bank account. An initial specialist consultation is required first ($395, or $306.60 after the Medicare rebate with a GP referral).
Do I need to try antiperspirant first?
For the Medicare rebate, yes. You need to have tried a clinical-strength antiperspirant and found it didn't work or irritated your skin. If you've already done that, you may qualify now.
How often will Medicare cover underarm treatment?
Up to 3 times in any 12 months, at least 4 months apart, when you meet the criteria.
How long does treatment for sweaty armpits last?
Results usually last 3 to 6 months. When sweating returns, you book a simple top-up. Medicare covers up to 3 treatments in any 12 months, at least 4 months apart.
Do you do surgery for excessive sweating?
We don't perform sweating surgery. It's rarely needed, and if it ever is, we explain the trade-offs and refer you.
Is hyperhidrosis a real medical condition?
Yes. It's a recognised condition where sweating is far more than the body needs to cool down. It isn't caused by poor hygiene, and it can be treated.
How do I know if I have hyperhidrosis?
If you sweat heavily in the same areas at least weekly, without heat or exercise, and it affects daily life, it's likely. A dermatologist can confirm it and check for other causes.
Do I need a referral to see a dermatologist for sweating?
No. You can book directly. A valid GP referral lets you claim a Medicare rebate on your consultation.
Does Medicare cover treatment for sweaty hands?
Usually not. Medicare criteria mainly apply to some treatments for severe underarm sweating. We'll explain costs for hands and feet at your consultation.
Is hyperhidrosis genetic?
Primary hyperhidrosis often runs in families. Many people we see have a parent or sibling with the same problem.
Does hyperhidrosis go away with age?
It can ease for some people over time, especially after their 20s and 30s, but many people need ongoing treatment. It rarely goes away completely on its own.
Can anxiety cause excessive sweating?
Stress and nerves make sweating worse, and worrying about sweating can set up a cycle. But primary hyperhidrosis isn't caused by anxiety, and treating the sweating often eases the worry.
Why do I sweat so much at night?
Primary hyperhidrosis usually settles during sleep. Drenching night sweats point to another cause, such as hormonal change, infection or medicines, so see your GP.
Can sweaty feet cause smelly feet or infections?
Yes. Damp feet are prone to odour, tinea and pitted keratolysis. Treating the sweating and the infection together usually helps both.
Is there a cure for hyperhidrosis?
There's no permanent cure, but treatment gives long-lasting control. Underarm treatment is simply topped up when sweating returns, and we review you to keep it under control.
Stop Putting Up With Sweaty Armpits
Book a consultation with a specialist dermatologist. We'll confirm what type of sweating you have, check whether you qualify for the Medicare rebate, and give you a clear plan with costs in writing. Both underarms $495 after Medicare rebate for eligible patients.*
Clinical content overseen by Dr Mitch Robinson, FACD (AHPRA MED0001946771). Updated October 2026. General information only, not medical advice. All procedures carry risks; suitability, recovery and results vary between individuals.