Underarm Hyperhidrosis: How to Stop Excessive Sweating

Imagine that you have just finished your exercise routine for the day. You are wet and sticky from sweat and immediately dry yourself with a towel or take a quick shower in the gym’s washroom. There is nothing out of the ordinary about sweating from physical activity.

Now, imagine sitting in an air-conditioned room and wearing light clothing but sweating profusely. If you have had experiences like this for an extended period or have had other moments in which there are no reasonable triggers for you to sweat, then you may be suffering from a condition called, hyperhidrosis.

What is Underarm Hyperhidrosis?

Underarm Hyperhidrosis can be described as a condition when a person sweats more than usual to establish the body’s thermal balance. A person can be symptomatic in generalized, regionalized or localized areas. Aside from being uncomfortable for the individual, it can be the cause of social anxiety, or it can be an occupational handicap.

The condition can cause the staining of clothes from excessive sweating. A person may have to change clothes throughout the day. Also, the odor that accompanies sweat can also be extremely bothersome and embarrassing in social situations.

There are traditional treatments available which include:

Antiperspirants: These can plug the ducts that release sweat.

Medicines: Prescription medication can keep sweat glands from being stimulated.

Iontophoresis: This is a procedure that uses electricity to turn off the sweat gland temporarily.

Botox: When the underarm is injected with Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) the nerves which stimulate sweating get blocked.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS): This is an invasive surgical procedure that involves cutting a nerve to turn the signal off which communicates to the body to sweat.

Underarm surgery: This surgery completely removes sweat glands from the armpits.

Alternatives to Surgery?

There is, however, an alternative to surgery for underarm Hyperhidrosis that can permanently eliminate unreasonable underarm sweat. The only FDA-approved procedure, miraDry, is available and helping many people who have had lives affected by excessive sweating. MiraDry is a non-invasive procedure that eliminates sweat and odor glands in the underarms permanently. Results are immediate after the procedure is completed.

How Does miraDry Work?

The miraDry treatment involves applying electromagnetic energy to the area of the underarms where the sweat glands are located. The process takes only about an hour to two hours to complete, and the results can be seen immediately afterward.

There are some side effects which include a feeling of numbness that diminishes in a week and localized soreness of the treated area that is only temporary. The downtime following the miraDry treatment is minimal. A person can resume normal activities after the procedure. Typically, after several days an individual may return to exercising regularly.

If you suffer from excessive sweating from the underarm or disagreeable odors, you do not have to continue suffering. miraDry is beneficial and proven to be an effective treatment for underarm hyperhidrosis. It can return your confidence and give you an overall feeling of cleanliness with lasting results. Contact Dr. Soine at Soine Dermatology today to see if miraDry is right for you!