It’s normal to perspire a lot when it’s hot and you’re out strolling on the shores of West Palm Beach. But if you’re only sitting in an air-conditioned room wearing light clothes and your shirt’s dripping wet with sweat, then that might be an indication of hyperhidrosis.
It’s easy to see why Florida is dubbed as the “Sunshine State.” Among all the places in the USA, South Florida is one of those blessed with perfect weather. Winters are mild and a bit warmer than other places, while summers are long, hot, and tempered with afternoon thunderstorms.
South Florida’s weather sounds like paradise for sunshine-loving people. But it’s a nightmare for those who produce bucketloads of sweat—even when they’re not doing anything.
What makes it worse than normal sweating is that it has no obvious trigger. It happens even when it’s not hot and you’re not doing any activities that can induce sweating.
Around 3% of the general US population is affected by hyperhidrosis. Still, it is considered as an under-recognized disease because many people shrug it off and don’t seek medical treatment about their condition.
Though excessive sweating does not pose any health hazards, it can still have huge implications in a person’s self-esteem and quality of life. It limits them from doing daily activities. It restricts them from socializing with others. It is also extremely uncomfortable, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it.
Among the several types of hyperhidrosis, the most common is called primary focal hyperhidrosis. It is characterized by overactive nerves, which activate your sweat glands even though they haven’t been triggered by heat or physical activity. Stress and nervousness also make sweating worse.
Whatever triggers those nerves to become hyperactive is not yet known. Some studies show that hyperhidrosis may be hereditary because it is sometimes seen in several family members.
But excessive sweating may also be caused by an underlying medical condition, in which case it is referred to as secondary hyperhidrosis. Some conditions that cause this include diabetes, menopause, thyroid problems, infections, heart attack, low blood sugar, nervous system diseases, and some types of cancer.
Certain medications, like opioid withdrawal, may also cause hyperhidrosis.
There’s only one notable symptom of hyperhidrosis—and that’s excessive perspiration. It exceeds normal sweating and usually affects the hands, feet, face, and underarms on both sides of the body. As for its frequency, it usually happens at least once a week and during waking hours.
Although many people don’t think too much of it, it’s important to report such episodes to physicians because it might be a sign of a serious underlying condition. It can also disrupt your daily routine, cause emotional distress, and make you withdraw from society.
You should also seek help if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like night sweats, nausea, chest pain, or lightheadedness.
Although hyperhidrosis by itself isn’t serious, it can lead to a few complications.
It makes you more susceptible to developing skin infections because the damp skin is a breeding ground for bacteria. It can also make you more prone to body odor, especially if you sweat profusely in your armpits.
Another complication is the loss of self-esteem, which is more mental than physical. Being extra sweaty can be embarrassing, thus affecting the way you deal with other people. It can even lead you to withdraw from society altogether.
To control excessive sweating, you can try asking your dermatologist for prescription antiperspirants. Deodorants containing aluminum hydroxide are often prescribed and applied to the affected skin before going to bed. It can cause eye and skin irritation though, so you must wash it off in the morning.
If your face is your problem area, you might be prescribed with glycopyrrolate-containing creams.
Some patients also get Botox injections in the affected areas to block the nerves that cause sweating, albeit only temporarily.
Since overactive nerves cause hyperhidrosis, nerve-blocking medications may also help. However, these may have side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision, and even bladder problems. Some doctors prescribe antidepressants, which decrease the anxiety that triggers hyperhidrosis
If you’re living in Miami and other nearby South Florida areas, can you imagine how inconvenient and embarrassing hyperhidrosis feels? Thankfully, Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery in Miami now has a revolutionary treatment that can solve your hyperhidrosis woes as it eliminates sweat glands in your underarms with the need for surgery.
The biggest benefit of miraDry is minimizing sweat in your underarms due to hyperhidrosis so that you can do the things you want to do without the fear of being judged or embarrassed.
Different studies show consistent results. A study from the Journal of Cosmetic Laser Therapy in 2013 revealed that miraDry patients experienced as much as 82% sweat reduction after undergoing a couple of treatments. Another research by the University of British Columbia also showed that miraDry treatments could reduce underarm perspiration in more than 90% of patients.
Another benefit of miraDry is the elimination of underarm hair and odor glands. So aside from lessening underarm sweat, miraDry can also stop hair growth and get rid of foul odor in your armpits.
miraDry is indicated for people who have hyperhidrosis in the underarms. It’s also ideal for people who want to live a toxin-free and natural lifestyle as it can help them get rid of antiperspirants containing chemicals that may have unwanted effects on the body.
But take note that miraDry is contraindicated for people who:
To prepare for your miraDry session, shave your underarm hair four to six days before the treatment. Don’t worry if there’s a bit of hair growth during the procedure. Your doctor will use that as a guide to identify your treatment areas.
Don’t use any deodorant or antiperspirant one day before your session.
On the day itself, make sure that you wear clothes with loose arm holes so that your doctor can easily access the treatment area.
After your doctor marks the areas to be treated in your armpits, he will administer lidocaine injections as local anesthesia to lessen your underarms’ sensitivity. Each person needs around 30 shots to numb the area.
Your doctor then places the miraDry handpiece directly on your skin and in line with the temporary treatment template applied to your pits. He then activates the handpiece to suction your sweat glands closer to the surface of the skin.
Once the sweat glands are near the surface, miraDry releases microwave energy to heat up and destroy both the sweat and odor glands—all the while cooling your skin for protection.
One session lasts for an hour. For most people, a single session is enough to produce great results.
To avoid irritation, wear loose-fitting or sleeveless tops.
Bruising at the injection site is expected because of anesthesia. You may also experience numbness or tingling of the arm within the first 24 hours after your procedure.
Other side effects that will eventually resolve in the coming days and weeks include:
swelling, soreness or pain, altered sensation, redness, weakness, tight banding, bumps under the skin
Rare complications that may occur include:
darkening of the skin, burns, rashes, skin infections, altered sweating in other areas.
Right after the procedure and even a few days later, ice your underarms using towel-wrapped ice packs. You may also use non-prescription anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to reduce swelling as needed.
Make sure that you keep the area clean by washing it with water and gentle soap. Apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to prevent infection.
Avoid shaving or applying deodorants or antiperspirants for the next few days. You should also wait for a few days before resuming sweat-inducing activities and exercises.
If you’re interested in getting miraDry treatments for your Hyperhidrosis, schedule a Free Consultation with our double board-certified plastic surgeon here in Face+Body Cosmetic Surgery.
