underarm sweating Archives - MiraDry Miami

8 Easy Ways to Prevent Blocked Underarm Sweat Glands

Nick Masri MD — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 17:03:00 +0000

From the possibility of developing hyperhidrosis to breeding bacteria that can cause body odor, clogged underarm sweat glands can lead to a variety of problems for your body down the road.

Fortunately, you can prevent blocked hair follicles from forming in your pits with a few lifestyle changes.
Continue reading as this article lists down all the ways you can prevent clogged armpit sweat glands.

Practice good hygiene to prevent your
underarm sweat glands from getting blocked.

Perhaps the most evident way to get a head start
when it comes to guarding your underarms is to practice good hygiene.

Take a bath regularly and use antiseptic soap in washing your underarms and other areas with lots of sweat glands. A mild hypoallergenic soap can avoid irritating your skin.
Exfoliating is also a good habit to add to your bathing routine. It helps with shedding off sticky buildup in the underarms from deodorants. Aluminum, an ingredient found in antiperspirants, can clog pores, so you need to wash them off thoroughly.
Other than that, don’t forget to wash your clothes always. Nothing beats a shirt fresh out of the laundry.

Wear loose and comfortable clothing.

Form-fitting clothes cause friction and irritation on your skin, causing bumps to form on your underarm sweat glands. Plus, loose clothing is not as restrictive as tight shirts.

Opt for fabrics like hemp, linen, and cotton if you’d like to prevent your underarm sweat glands from getting blocked.

Maintain your ideal weight.

Losing weight has a multitude of benefits, including preventing your underarm sweat glands from getting blocked.

Overweight people are more prone to develop blocked sweat glands. By maintaining a healthy weight, you get to prevent flareups while also taking care of your overall health.

To maintain a healthy weight, adopt a balanced diet and avoid food high in sugar and fat. Increase the intake of fruit and vegetables.

Are you having a hard time sticking to your ideal weight? Find a support group to help you keep an eye on your nutrition to make sure you adhere to your weight loss goals.

Quit smoking to lessen your chances of inflamed underarm sweat glands.

We’ve heard it a lot of times before – smoking is bad for your health. But how bad is it really when it comes to your skin and underarms?

Your dependency on your daily stash of sticks can make you more prone to developing blocked sweat glands in the long run.

While there is a study that proves this, it’s still hard to pinpoint the reason why cigarette smoking can be a triggering factor.

Nonetheless, giving up smoking has a multitude of benefits that go beyond having better underarms. You’ll eventually see your overall health improve by cutting this habit out of your day-to-day life.

Stay cool.

When your body overheats, you tend to sweat a lot, making you more prone to hair follicle blockages.

So, always stay in well-ventilated areas to prevent excessive sweating. As much as possible, stay out of the sun especially between 10 AM to 3 PM. Keep an antiperspirant on hand to stay dry and wear loose clothing. Stay hydrated at all times.

But staying cool also means avoiding stress. When you’re stressed, you also become prone to sweating, so try to stay chill and not let your anxiety get the best of you. Do visualization, meditation, and deep breathing exercises to keep stress at bay.

Avoid shaving.

While shaving is one of the easiest ways to remove armpit hair, it’s not nearly as helpful for your sweat glands. In fact, it does more harm than good.

Shaving can rub bacteria to your underarm sweat glands, causing bumps and triggering breakouts.

If removing your armpit hair is a must, opt for gentler ways to do so. Investing in laser hair removal is one route you can take.

You can also try miraDry to make your blocked sweat glands problem go away. This noninvasive procedure eliminates sweat, hair, and odor glands in the armpits using microwave energy.

It’s an all-in-one solution that you can invest in to achieve sweat-free and hair-free underarms. One session can already give you your desired results, though it still depends on a case-by-case basis.

Ask your doctor about supplements.

Sometimes, making a few lifestyle changes isn’t enough.

Ask your doctor about oral zinc supplements that you can take to prevent the formation of inflamed sweat glands in your armpits. These supplements include zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, zinc gluconate, zinc chelate, zinc acetate, and zinc glycine.

Take extra precaution if you’re pregnant. Always go for the safe route and ask your doctor first.

Learn to treat your inflamed underarm sweat glands.

If you think that you already have problematic sweat glands in your pits, consult a professional and seek advice on different ways to keep the inflammation at bay.

Your doctor will most likely prescribe you with steroid drugs to control inflammation. If you have infected underarm sweat glands, expect to be prescribed with antibiotics. These may come in oral or topical forms that you may apply directly to the affected area.

Other than medicines, there are plenty of home remedies that can minimize inflamed sweat glands. Apply warm compress on the affected area for 10-15 minutes at a time for pain relief. You may also use a hot teabag for this purpose, but make sure that it’s at a tolerable temperature to prevent burns.

Use an antibacterial and fragrance-free soap as well to prevent further skin irritation. Likewise, avoid comedogenic lotions and moisturizers as these may further block the glands and pores.

Prevention is always better than treatment. You may even choose to get rid of your underarm sweat glands right away if you think that they’re going to give you problems in the future. Removing your armpit sweat glands is actually a lot safer than you think.

If you choose to explore this option, schedule a Free Consultation with our certified miraDry practitioners here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery. We’ll answer any questions that you may have when it comes to dealing with underarm sweat glands.

The post 8 Easy Ways to Prevent Blocked Underarm Sweat Glands appeared first on MiraDry Miami.

7 Easy Ways on How to Prevent Underarm Sweat

Nick Masri MD — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 15:17:41 +0000

Anyone who’s ever been trapped in an embarrassing sweat situation would love to know how to prevent underarm sweat.

While sweating is significant in thermoregulation, you can do away with the annoying underarm stain that starts forming on your shirt, making you feel shy and self-conscious. No, you don’t need that kind of stress in your life.

So, check out the following ways on how you can stop your armpits from sweating, both temporarily and for good.

Know your sweat triggers to help you know how to prevent underarm sweat.

Do you get sweaty when you’re nervous? Or is the summer heat making your skin drench with sweat?
There are plenty of reasons why you get sweaty underarms, and your environment and activity level are part of those.

Since perspiration regulates your body temperature, hot weather and increased physical activity can trigger sweating. If possible, stay indoors especially when the sun is up. You may also avoid doing strenuous activities that can cause you to sweat buckets.

And another way on how to prevent underarm sweat is by keeping your stress levels in check. Are you feeling anxious due to a speaking engagement, an interview, or a first date? These can trigger your sweat glands to go into overdrive.
While you can’t avoid stress, understanding your anxiety can help you manage it in the long run. You may also do some stress-relieving techniques like meditation, visualization exercises, yoga, and deep breathing.

Use an antiperspirant.

This has been said time and again, but an antiperspirant is still one of the most convenient ways to prevent underarm sweating.

Antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride that blocks sweat glands. They come in the form of roll-ons, gels, sticks, squeeze bottles, and pads.

It’s easy to find commercial antiperspirants because they’re all over the market. You’ll find formulas designed for men, women, and teenagers.

And if commercial antiperspirants don’t work for you, you may consult your doctor to ask about prescription-strength antiperspirants. They contain around 30 to 45% aluminum chloride, compared to over-the-counter ones that only have 10 to 25%.

Wear fabrics made of breathable materials.

Going out into the sweltering heat? You can prevent underarm sweat to some extent by making sure that you wear light and breathable clothing.

Choose clothes made of natural fabrics like linen, cotton, silk, and wool. Avoid synthetic materials like polyester and nylon because they don’t let air pass through to your skin. Instead, they trap heat and moisture, making your armpits sweat.

Change your diet.

If you want to know how to prevent underarm sweat from the inside, then you should also look at what you’re putting inside your body.

Some foods and drinks can make you sweat more, so it’s best to avoid them. These include beer, liquor, onion, garlic, spicy foods, and processed foods.

On the other hand, you may want to eat foods that help reduce sweating, like calcium-rich dairy foods, oats, sweet potatoes, green tea, and fruits and vegetables with high water content.

Stay hydrated.

Drinking water naturally lowers your body temperature, creating a cooling effect.

Drink at least two liters or eight glasses of water throughout the day to keep you cool and hydrated. Do this especially in hot weather to avoid getting dehydrated.

But try to stay away from too much coffee and other caffeinated drinks. Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, raising your heart rate and metabolism and causing you to sweat more.

Explore natural remedies on how to prevent underarm sweat.

Want to go the natural route? You may try concocting some home remedies to help you get rid of armpit sweat.

One of the most popular home remedies for underarm sweat is apple cider vinegar. Acting as a natural astringent, apple cider vinegar tightens pores and controls sweat production. Soak a cotton ball with it and apply it to your underarms overnight. Wash it off in the morning.

You may also try using black tea, which contains tannic acid that also constricts pores to reduce sweat. Simply steep two black tea bags in three to four cups of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. After cooling, dab it on your underarms.

Another natural astringent that you can use is witch hazel, which works great for both facial and underarm sweating. On how to prevent underarm sweat using witch hazel, soak a cotton pad with the solution and apply it on the affected area. You may leave it as is or wash it off after 30 minutes.

Consult your doctor.

If all the above measures don’t help you on how to prevent underarm sweat, then perhaps it’s high time that you ask the help of a professional.

You have several medical options to treat excessive underarm sweating. One is Botox, which involves injecting the Botulinum toxin under your arms to block the nerves that stimulate sweating. The results can last anywhere from three to six months.

You may also try taking oral anticholinergic medications. Anticholinergics block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which stimulates sweat glands. However, since drugs are taken orally, expect to experience systemic effects. Aside from dry underarms, you may also experience constipation and dry mouth.

If you want to know how to prevent underarm sweat permanently, you can ask your doctor about miraDry treatments. This groundbreaking method involves the use of a handheld device that emits microwave energy beneath your skin’s surface, thus destroying the sweat, odor, and hair glands underneath.

Willing to go into surgery?

If you’ve already exhausted all efforts to prevent underarm sweating but to no avail, then you can ask your doctor about endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or ETS surgery.

This operation involves clipping the nerves connected to your sweat glands so that they won’t be stimulated anymore. Just be mindful that you may start sweating more profusely in other parts of your body as you try to compensate for the absence of sweat in your underarms.

Does any of these methods resonate with you? Give it a try to help you figure out which technique best prevents underarm sweating for you.

Or if you’re willing to take more advanced treatments like miraDry, schedule a Free Consultation with our certified miraDry provider here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery. Let’s discuss how miraDry can help you stop underarm sweating, boost your confidence, and increase the quality of your life.

The post 7 Easy Ways on How to Prevent Underarm Sweat appeared first on MiraDry Miami.

6 Myths About Removing Underarm Sweat Glands, Debunked

Nick Masri MD — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 23:42:40 +0000

Have you ever experienced excessive underarm sweating? If you did, you're aware of the embarrassment that having overactive underarm sweat glands can give you.

The truth is, you might be suffering from a condition known as axillary hyperhidrosis. While it’s not life-threatening, too much armpit sweating can still affect the quality of your life. It can even make you shy away from social interactions.

Maybe you’ve even thought about removing your underarm sweat glands just to make the distressing sweat and smell go away. But since sweat glands are a part of your body, you might feel uneasy getting rid of them altogether. Just do a quick online search, and you’ll find tons of myths about underarm sweat gland removal.

So in this article, we debunk these common sweat gland myths to show you that you why permanently removing your sweat glands is the best option when it comes to axillary hyperhidrosis.

Myth #1: Destroying underarm sweat glands is dangerous.

The notion of destroying sweat glands may be alarming and scary to some.

But the truth is, the sweat glands in your underarms are just 2% of the four million sweat glands found in the rest of your body.

This means that removing your underarm sweat glands won’t make a huge difference in the regulation of your body temperature. You have nothing to worry about in that aspect.

Myth #2: There is no safe way to remove armpit sweat glands.

In the past, you can only remove armpit sweat glands through a surgery known as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). But it’s an extremely invasive procedure that might cause more harm than good if not done right.

But thankfully, you now have the option of undergoing miraDry treatments for your underarms. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, miraDry can help you get sweat-free pits by using microwave energy to destroy your armpit sweat glands.

In this procedure, your miraDry provider uses a handheld device to deliver electromagnetic energy to the sweat glands below your armpit skin. To prevent burns, it has a built-in cooling mechanism that protects the skin’s topmost layer.

So far, there isn’t any evidence that miraDry has any harmful and permanent side effects. It continues to be the permanent remedy of choice for people with axillary hyperhidrosis because it’s quick and minimally invasive.

Myth #3: Getting rid of sweat glands won't stop body odor.

Body odor happens when your sweat comes in contact with the bacteria on your skin surface. Thus, stopping sweating can actually make a difference in how your body smells.

For example, one of the treatments used to stop excessive sweating is Botox. It can also help reduce body odor as a result, although its effects are not permanent. They only last for about four months, after which you must get Botox touch-ups to continue enjoying your results.

Another example is miraDry. It gets rid of armpit sweat glands, including odor and hair glands. Thus, it offers a permanent solution to sweating and armpit odor.

Myth #4: The lack of sweat glands in the underarms can lead to compensatory sweating.

Compensatory sweating is a side effect of treatments that involve getting rid of sweat glands.

It happens when you remove sweat glands in one area of your body, so the rest of the sweat glands in other areas secrete sweat more than usual.
Though possible, compensatory sweating is quite rare for miraDry patients. Statistics show that only one percent of miraDry patients experienced this.

Because your armpits contain only a small percentage of the sweat glands in your body, removing underarm sweat glands won’t affect your body’s ability to regulate heat.

Myth #5: Underarm sweat glands grow back.

Once you get rid of your sweat glands, they never grow back.

That’s why treatments like miraDry result in a permanent sweat reduction. It involves underarm sweat gland removal.

In fact, a 2013 study about miraDry showed that 83.3% of the treated patients had a two-point improvement in the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale.

On the other hand, antiperspirants and Botox only block sweat glands for a limited time. You have to do touch-ups to keep sweating at bay since they don’t involve sweat gland removal.

Myth #6: Overactive sweat glands resolve on their own.

Many people dismiss excessive sweating as something that would eventually go away. But the truth is, this underrated condition rarely resolves on its own.

A simple lifestyle change can’t treat hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating has periods of remission. Unless you address the underlying cause, it will come back.

That’s why you shouldn’t just sweep hyperhidrosis under the rug. Consult a doctor to know if you have hyperhidrosis and ask him which procedure will work for you.

miraDry is worth a shot when it comes to treating underarm sweat glands. For one, it’s safe and noninvasive. Plus, it also yields more lasting results compared to other treatments.

Are you interested in getting a miraDry treatment? Schedule a Free Consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery so that we can help you get rid of excessive sweating for good.

The post 6 Myths About Removing Underarm Sweat Glands, Debunked appeared first on MiraDry Miami.

4 Options To Reduce Underarm Excessive Sweating

Nick Masri MD — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 17:24:58 +0000

Underarm excessive sweating can be embarrassing. You’ll find yourself not only dealing with stain marks but also trying to find a way to manage the odor.

Fortunately, modern medicine has already provided a range of solutions to deal with hyperhidrosis. Here are some procedures you can explore to minimize armpit excessive sweating.

miraDry

One common solution is miraDry. It’s one of the top procedures that help treat excessive sweating of the underarm because it is quick and non-invasive. It involves the use of a handheld device that emits microwave technology. These waves eradicate excessive sweating in a series of simple steps.

How miraDry reduces underarm excessive sweating

First, the doctor marks the target area, then proceeds to numb the underarms. Once ready, he places the device directly on your skin.

Once it is activated, you will feel a slight sucking sensation. This means the sweat, odor, and hair glands are being brought closer to the surface of your skin.

Microwave energy is delivered onto the skin, destroying the glands in the area. As the process happens, the spot is also cooled in order to protect the skin.

miraDry candidates

miraDry is suitable for every patient suffering from excessive underarm sweating. This treatment is made specifically for the armpits.
Most of the time, a session is enough to get the results you want.

miraDry risks and side effects

While it is an ideal solution, miraDry also has its own set of risks.
Side effects often include damaged hair follicles, swelling, numbness, tingling of the arms, and nerve damage.

Botox

How Botox reduces underarm excessive sweating

While commonly known as a cosmetic procedure, Botox can also help manage underarm excessive sweating.

The neurotoxin blocks the nerves responsible for activating your body’s sweat glands. Because of that, you no longer sweat as much in your Botox-treated area.

Botox candidates

If you find that your prescribed antiperspirants aren’t as effective as expected, it might be time to consider Botox.

However, this isn’t a good option for people with hyperhidrosis due to an underlying medical condition. It’s also contraindicated for those who have severe blood clotting disorders.

Botox risks and side effects

Botox is one of the most accessible treatments out there. However, there are still some side effects to consider.

You may experience pain or bruising at the injected spot, as well as headaches and flu-like symptoms. Serious side effects such as muscle weakness, difficulty in breathing, and loss of bladder control are rare but also possible.

Iontophoresis

This treatment uses electrical stimulation to minimize excessive sweating in the palms and soles.

How iontophoresis reduces underarm excessive sweating

The procedure involves an electrical current that passes through water-soaked pads placed on the armpit area. The procedure thickens the outer layer of the skin, disrupting nerve transmission and blocking sweat from flowing.

Iontophoresis candidates

This procedure is best for those who have already tried prescription or clinical strength antiperspirants but find that they need a stronger treatment.

It is also best for people with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis, as it has a lower success rate for underarm excessive sweating.

Iontophoresis risks and side effects

The most common side effects of iontophoresis are skin dryness, roughness, and itchiness. But you can solve this by applying lotion or moisturizer to your treated areas.
Blisters or bruising may also occur if the intensity of the current is too high. You might also feel a mild burning sensation if you accidentally touch an electrode.
Pregnant women and those with metal implants should refrain from undergoing this treatment.

Qbrexza

Qbrexa is the newest underarm excessive sweating treatment. It only became FDA-approved and available in the market last October 2018.

How Qbrexza reduces underarm excessive sweating

What makes Qbrexza different from other hyperhidrosis drugs is that it is topical, not oral. Dermira’s Qbrexza is a prescription topical treatment that contains glycopyrronium, an anticholinergic drug. Anticholinergic drugs prevent the nervous system from communicating with certain cells.

It blocks the receptors responsible for sweat gland activation, leading to reduced underarm excessive sweating.

Each box of Qbrexza has 30 pouches. One pad a day is enough for both underarms.

Qbrexza candidates

Qbrexza is perfect for those who suffer from axillary hyperhidrosis as Dermira specifically made it for the underarms.

If you’ve exhausted all the other lower-cost treatments, these wipes are a good option to consider.

But make sure that you’re not taking any other anticholinergic drug before using these wipes. Patients with certain conditions like glaucoma, an unstable cardiovascular status, or Sjogren’s syndrome should also avoid this drug.

Take note as well that it should only be used by those who are nine years old and above as testing on younger children is still inconclusive.

Qbrexza risks and side effects

As with other hyperhidrosis treatment, Qbrexza also has its own fair share of side effects.

Possible effects include dry mouth, constipation, and itchy and burning skin. Other than those, it’s a perfectly safe drug for excessive underarm sweating.

With all these options for underarm excessive sweating, you only have to consult your doctor to let him know what kind of procedure you’re most interested in.

Interested in learning more about these procedures? Schedule a Free Consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery.

The post 4 Options To Reduce Underarm Excessive Sweating appeared first on MiraDry Miami.