Overview | Treatments for Hyperhidrosis | Ideal Candidates | Benefits | Procedure | Risks and results | Self-care for the future

If you notice that your armpits have recently started to sweat excessively, it might be a sign of hyperhidrosis for underarms disorder. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you might inherit hyperhidrosis from your family, in which case it worsens with age. However, you can also develop it suddenly without any apparent cause. 

We, at The Bombay Skin Clinic, are here to tell you that hyperhidrosis is a treatable disorder, having successfully helped thousands of patients with hyperhidrosis treatments. 

Let’s take a look at the treatments options available to give you sweat-free underarms.

Underarm hyperhidrosis treatments

  1. miraDry – Sweat is produced by the sweat glands that are located under the skin. The excessive sweating from your underarms can be stopped by making the glands inactive, and that is exactly what miraDry can do. It is a non-invasive treatment that is performed by a dermatologist using a handheld device. This medical device delivers controlled thermal energy into your underarms to destroy the sweat glands present there. Once these glands are destroyed, your armpits will stop producing sweat permanently.
    This is the best aspect of miraDry treatment, as you will never have to worry about sweaty underarms ever again once the treatment is completed. Our experienced doctors at The Bombay Skin Clinic perform this procedure while balancing the efficacy of the treatment with the patients’ comfort and safety.
  2. Botox – Another popular and safe treatment for hyperhidrosis is the use of Botox injections, as noted by The New England Journal of Medicine. The Botulinum toxin, or Botox, works in a different way than miraDry. Your body creates a certain chemical that activates the sweat glands when your body needs to cool down. When Botox is inserted into the armpits, the secretion of that chemical is obstructed. Hence, it results in deactivated sweat glands. This procedure works quickly and without causing much discomfort.
    However, the one thing we would like to point out about Botox treatment is that it is not a permanent solution. Every person’s body breaks down Botox differently. So, when the treatment works for 6 months in some cases, other people may start to sweat again in about 3 months. This is especially so if you spend a long time in hot environments or go to the gym frequently. In such cases, we recommend another round of treatment. At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we only make use of the safest grade Botox available.

Ideal candidate for these treatments

When someone suffers from hyperhidrosis for underarms, stress, exercise, or embarrassing situations might be easy triggers for excessive sweating. According to Stanford Healthcare, if this is true for you, then you are the right candidate to receive one of the above treatments. We recommend miraDry if anti-sweating medicines or other treatments have not worked.

If you have tried all non-invasive treatments and prescription antiperspirants to cure hyperhidrosis but your underarms still keep sweating too much, you should consider Botox. Botox can do more damage if you are taking certain medicines. Our dermatologists conduct a complete assessment of your medical history and current physical condition before determining the suitability of this line of treatment for you. 

Advantages

When you opt for miraDry or Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis for underarms with the skilled doctors at The Bombay Skin Clinic, you can enjoy the following advantages:

  • Non-invasive and quick treatment
  • No downtime
  • Immediate results
  • Significantly reduced sweating
  • Long-lasting results
  • Eliminated need to invest in other treatments
  • No clothes ruined by armpit sweat
  • Reduction in underarm odor
  • Increased confidence

Steps involved in the procedure

For miraDry, our dermatologists numb the armpits so you do not feel any discomfort during the procedure. Then, marking the targeted areas to make sure that they can guide the medical device with accuracy, they deliver the thermal energy into the armpits to complete the procedure. This only takes about an hour, post which the sweat glands are destroyed.

Botox treatment is taken as an injection. After applying local anesthesia on your underarms, our dermatologist delivers the Botox under the skin using fine needles. Once safely performed, your sweat glands will stop producing sweat for a certain period. Temporary side effects include mild bruising from the needle pricks and some redness.

Risks and results to expect

The miraDry treatment for hyperhidrosis for underarms is significantly safe, and the chances of any risk is minimal. The procedure immediately destroys the sweat gland permanently to rid you of excessive sweating. 

Botox treatment has some risks of side effects. You can also experience soreness, infection, muscle weakness, and headache. Our doctors will recommend that you avoid taking certain medications prior to the procedure to help prevent complications or unwanted side effects.

We would like to stress on the fact that results for both the treatments may vary from patient to patient, depending on the severity of the condition and your physiology. 

Number of sessions required

We recommend two miraDry treatment sessions, three months apart, to achieve a permanent result.

The results from the Botox treatment often do not last for more than six months. So, you may need to visit the clinic multiple times for follow-ups and additional injections as recommended by the dermatologist. 

How miraDry procedure is different from other treatments

The hyperhidrosis for underarms can be treated in multiple ways. However, most of these are aggressive, invasive, and offer only temporary solutions. miraDry, on the other hand, is non-invasive and offers a permanent solution.

Self-care required in the future

miraDry treatment practically has no downtime. You can go back to you regular activities immediately, as long as you avoid exercising for a couple of days. Try not to scrub your armpits too much for the next few weeks to avoid irritation. We recommend this for post-Botox treatment as well. Heavy exercising after Botox treatment should also be avoided for at least two days. You should stay away from extreme heat for 48 hours, too. 

Don’t I need my underarm sweat glands?

Our patients often ask this question. Destroying your sweat glands to stop hyperhidrosis for underarms for good is necessary. If you are wondering whether it is a good idea to eradicate the underarm sweat glands with miraDry, you should know that only 2% of your body’s sweat glands are located under the armpits. Eliminating them does no harm to your body’s ability to cool off. 

Closing paragraph

According to the National Health Service, if your underarms sweat excessively even when they do not require cooling off, you might have hyperhidrosis and need to consult with a dermatologist. It can result in a lot of discomfort and embarrass you in social situations. The good news is that we are here to help. Book an appointment with The Bombay Skin Clinic to determine the right course of treatment and free you from this condition today!

References

  1. Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/excessive-sweating
  2. Stanford Healthcare: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/skin-hair-and-nails/hyperhidrosis.html
  3. National Health Service: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/excessive-sweating-hyperhidrosis/
  4. The New England Journal of Medicine: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200102153440704