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Overview and Treatment

Hyperhidrosis

MiraDry for Hyperhidrosis

We’ve all sweated out those anxious moments, whether it’s proposing marriage, sitting in a lobby waiting for a job interview, or having to speak in front of a group. Your palms are damp, you can feel the drop, drop, drop in your armpits – first cool, then getting warming – hoping your deodorant will stem the flow.  In most cases, that’s a natural response to everyday moments of stress. When your body temperature rises, your unique cooling system – via small glands – acts like a little sprinkler system that’s been specially designed to keep you cool.

However, it is possible that you’re suffering from a medical condition known as hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. It’s not a minor problem. Excessive sweating can lead to a lifetime of embarrassing moments, diminish self-confidence, and even cause offensive odors. For those who have hyperhidrosis, those awful moments are a lifetime sentence. The good news is that hyperhidrosis can be cured. 

Primary and Secondary Hyperhidrosis

Primary
Primary hyperhidrosis results when your sweat glands receive signals from your nervous system regardless of the situation. In other words, you sweat even when there is no biological reason to do so. Hyperhidrosis can occur in the underarm (axillary) or on the palm of your hands or soles of the feet (palmoplantar hyperhidrosis).

Secondary
Although some research indicates that hyperhidrosis occasionally runs in families, scientists and medical professionals haven’t nailed down a cause. Cancer treatments, hormonal imbalances, and other serious situational conditions can cause us to sweat excessively – but do not meet the criteria for hyperhidrosis. Doctors call this secondary hyperhidrosis.

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR Hyperhidrosis

There are many temporary solutions that provide short-term relief from excessive sweating. Purveyors of Botox therapies flood the airwaves to offer a longer-lasting alternative; in the best cases, Botox injections only work for 6 months.  The following procedures eliminate hyperhidrosis completely:

  • Sympathectomy – A major surgical procedure that removes the nerves which send the signals to the sweat glands. Doctors have been performing this costly and invasive surgery for more than 80-years. All major surgeries pose risks, some of which can be severe.
  • MiraDry – The only clinically tested non-surgical permanent treatment solution that has been approved by the FDA to eliminate underarm sweat and odor.

The miraDry treatment uses thermal energy to eliminate the sweat glands in your armpits. After a single, non-invasive procedure, you will never sweat from the armpits again. More than 150,000 MiraDry treatments have been performed throughout the world. Most patients report the treatment is pain-free and the results are immediate. You will never need to use deodorant again. Click here to for Technical Specifications of the miraDry system.

Quick Facts about Hyperhidrosis

  • It’s estimated that 2% to 3% of us suffer from axillary or palmoplantar hyperhidrosis.
  • Axillary hyperhidrosis generally begins during late adolescence

Sources:
Johns Hopkins University Center for Sweat Disorders
Columbia University Center for Hyperhidrosis
New England Journal of Medicine.