How to Stop Underarm Sweating

Is excessive sweating a perennial problem that you want to get rid of?
Sure, sweating is natural. But it can also be embarrassing if you’re always perspiring profusely.

Tell us, how many times have you tried hiding the wet marks in your shirt’s underarm area? How many of your shirts and dresses have been ruined by stubborn antiperspirant stains? How often do you miss out on after office events and parties because of body odor?

You sweat when it’s hot and even when it’s cold. You sweat when you run, but also when you’re at rest. You even sweat even when you’re wearing light and airy clothes.

If these situations sound familiar to you, then you might have hyperhidrosis.

WHAT IS HYPERHIDROSIS?

Hyperhidrosis is a common condition that affects around 2% to 3% of Americans. It is characterized by excessive sweating of the underarms, palms, and soles of the feet. It usually begins in childhood or adolescence and may continue for the rest of your life if left untreated.

Causes vary for this condition. For some, it’s caused by neurological or endocrine disorders. For others, it’s simply because of the heat or heightened emotions.

Because there isn’t one cause to hyperhidrosis, treating it isn’t an easy task. People suffering from this condition have tried a variety of solutions to treat hyperhidrosis.

These solutions include using over-the-counter and prescription antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride and taking oral medications that reduce sweating. Some even get Botox injections in the underarms to treat excessive sweating, while others even go so far as to undergo surgery to destroy the nerve supply to the sweat glands.

But what if all these hacks don’t work for you? Are you simply going to resign yourself to a life filled with embarrassment because you can’t control your body sweat?

miraDry: The Revolutionary Solution to Hyperhidrosis

You don’t have to miss out on life’s exciting events because of extreme perspiration.

miraDry® is the only FDA-cleared treatment that eliminates sweat glands in your underarms without surgery. By using the miraDry system, you no longer have to deal with profuse sweating in your armpits, giving you a much-needed confidence boost.

But aside from getting rid of underarm wetness, this procedure has also been cleared by the FDA in 2015 for eliminating underarm hair and odor glands in the long run.

It is the first FDA-cleared device that dramatically lessens underarm sweat, stops hair growth, and eliminates odor-producing glands.

HOW DOES miraDry WORK?

miraDry® uses electromagnetic energy to target and destroy sweat and odor glands in your armpits. And once these glands are eliminated, they won’t grow back anymore. They’re gone for good, leaving you with permanent results.

Here are the steps involved in using the miraDry system:

First, your doctor measures your armpits and marks the treatment area.
Even though miraDry is a non-invasive and painless remedy, your doctor will still administer local anesthesia using lidocaine injections to numb the site before treatment since the armpits are sensitive areas. Around 30 shots may be needed depending on the person.
Next, your clinician will place the miraDry handpiece directly on your skin, lining it up with the temporary treatment template applied to your armpits.
He activates the handpiece to bring your sweat glands closer to the surface of the skin. You’ll feel a slight suction as this happens.
Finally, miraDry delivers microwave energy that heats up and destroys your sweat and odor glands. Your skin is also cooled and protected throughout this hour-long procedure.

Expect to see results right after your first session. But for optimum outcomes, doctors recommend undergoing two to three sessions of miraDry treatments.

WHO’S A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR miraDry TREATMENTS?

Anyone who’s 18 years old and above can get a miraDry treatment.

If underarm sweat always bothers you and you want to finally get rid of it, then you should consider miraDry. It is also great for people who are seeking to live a natural and toxin-free lifestyle. After all, many antiperspirants include chemicals that may have unwanted effects to the body, like aluminum, parabens, and propylene glycol.

Aluminum is a common ingredient in antiperspirants that is easily absorbed into the skin and induces changes to estrogen receptors in breast cells.
Paraben is an artificial preservative that mimics estrogen activity and is often found in breast tumors.
Propylene glycol has been discovered to cause contact dermatitis and was also found to be toxic to both the liver and kidneys.

Take note that this procedure cannot be used for hyperhidrosis of the hands and feet since it’s still awaiting approval from the FDA.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF miraDry?

The results of miraDry are immediate and long-lasting, but they vary from person to person.

chart A study from the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy in 2013 showed that hyperhidrosis patients who underwent at least two miraDry treatment sessions spaced three months apart experienced as much as 82% sweat reduction.

Around 93.8% of those suffering from foul underarm odor also experienced noticeable improvement. However, some patients get results right after the first treatment, while others had to get a third session to make miraDry work for them.

The results of that study echoed earlier research by the University of British Columbia in 2012 showing that miraDry can reduce underarm perspiration in more than 90% of patients. In fact, patients rated their treatment satisfaction at 90%.

It’s normal to have absolutely no sweat in your armpits right after the treatment. But expect some sweating to return in about two to three weeks after the procedure, though it’s not as profuse as before.

You should also remember miraDry only treats your underarms, so you’ll continue to sweat in other parts of your body.

IS THERE SIGNIFICANT DOWNTIME AND RECOVERY?

Since miraDry is a noninvasive procedure, there’s usually no downtime.
Patients experience little to no discomfort during and after the procedure.

Ideally, you should give your body at least a couple of days to relax and heal. You may also use over-the-counter pain meds and ice packs for a few days if you experience some discomfort. Still, you may resume your normal activities right away and even return to work after the procedure.

But if you’re planning to exercise, it’s recommended to postpone it for a couple of days. You should also avoid scheduling an important event right after your miraDry treatments.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS?

Contrary to popular belief, getting rid of your underarm sweat glands won’t pose any harmful effects to your body. That’s because only 2% of the body’s almost four million sweat glands are found in your armpits. Thus, removing your underarm sweat glands won’t affect your body’s ability to cool itself.

According to a peer-reviewed article published in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, the microwave treatment used in miraDry has been shown to be safe and effective in more than 6,000 procedures to date.

But like other procedures, miraDry has its own set of minor side effects. You might experience underarm swelling, soreness, bruising, and redness, which may last for days or weeks. The swelling also varies from person to person—it might lead to minor irritation or the development of large lumps.

It’s also normal to experience changes in skin sensation, numbness, and tingling in the upper arm or armpits up to five weeks.

Serious miraDry complications may also occur, although they happen rarely. One of the biggest risks is permanent nerve injury. Patients on the thin side are more prone to this complication because their nerve endings are closer to the surface of the skin.

HOW MUCH DOES miraDry COST?

You must be ready to invest $2,000 to $3,000 per session for your miraDry treatments, although the exact cost depends on where you live.

At Face + Body Cosmetic Surgery, the price starts at $2,250, with additional treatments costing $995. Payments start as low as $62/month.

Targeting the exact location of your sweat glands can be a bit tricky, but many patients usually need just one session to enjoy lasting results.

Because miraDry gets rid of sweat glands in your underarms, you can expect less sweating that leads to uncomfortable moments. It can boost your confidence and self-esteem.

If you want to start living a clean, carefree, and confident life without the constant stress and embarrassment brought about by your excessively sweaty underarms, then you should try getting miraDry® treatments.

Schedule a Free Consultation with one of our experienced and miraDry-certified plastic surgeons to learn more about miraDry and how it can help you live the life that you’ve always wanted.

HOW miraDry PREVENTS EXCESSIVE SWEATING FROM RUINING YOUR LIFE