Women who are obsessed in getting rid of excessive underarm sweat as well as hair pits has turned to the new beauty technology that is armpit microwave.
Microwave for the underarm? Is this for real?
Yes, you heard and read it right. We are not talking about the microwave per se, but we are highlighting the newest form of treating axillary hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweat – the microwave energy treatment. This form of electro-magnetic energy is found to treat axillary hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm perspiration.
What is axillary hyperhidrosis? What are the causes?
Axillary hyperhidrosis happens when there is excess sweating beyond what is considered normal to maintain consistent body temperature. The cause of severe underarm sweating is due to overstimulation of sympathetic nervous system. Other reasons that add to this condition are specific food, anxiety, stress and emotional stimuli.
How does excessive sweating affect people who have them?
People with hyperhidrosis produce sweat profusely at a random. The amount of perspiration is sometimes 4 to 5 times what is normal; however, experts emphasize that they measure it not only to know the amount of sweat excreted but also how this condition affects people’s daily lives.
This disorder causes significant impairment in social, occupational and emotional wellbeing. As a matter of fact, people with hyperhidrosis experience embarrassment and social awkwardness. In the United States, 2.8 percent or 7.8 million individuals in the US population is affected by hyperhidrosis. 50.8 percent of this population are reported that they have axillary hyperhidrosis. Only 38 percent had discussed their condition with a health care professional. Meanwhile, one third of individuals with axillary hyperhidrosis reported that their sweating is barely tolerable and frequently interferes with their daily activities.
What are the treatment options available prior to introduction of microwave energy treatment?
Before the microwave energy treatment was discovered to treat this underarm sweat case, treatment options available are antiperspirant (both OTC and prescription) and onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox). Surgery is the third most known form of treatment but it is invasive. This involves making an incision then an instrument is applied under the surface of the skin that attempts to destroy sweat glands from underneath.
What is microwave energy treatment? What does it do to eliminate excessive sweating?
MiraDry, a new technology that uses microwave energy to banish unwanted hair and sweaty armpits is entering the beauty scene. With the advent of this technology, this is good news for those who aspire to have sweat-free as well as hair-free underarm. With the use of precisely controlled microwave energy, this technology aims to lessen the appearance of underarm hair and cease too much sweating permanently.
This non-invasive treatment takes about 60 minutes. Prior to the actual treatment, the underarm is being numb using local anesthesia to minimize pain. It works by heating the underarm area. The heat destroys the sweat glands that produce excessive sweating. It cools at the same time as it heats so it protects the surface of the skin. The temporary black marks and lines used on the underarm exist to help guide the treatment. After the treatment, the patients can be expected to return to his or her normal activities immediately.
This technological innovation is said to work with any type of hair and skin tone as it does not require a chromophore like laser hair removal devices.
What are the remarkable effects of this treatment?
The effects of this non-invasive treatment are long lasting. With this treatment, it is reported to reduce sweat by 82 percent. Once the sweat glands are destroyed, they do not regenerate. Other than reduced sweating, other reported effects are less hair in the underarm and less odor.
Those who underwent this treatment experienced tolerable pain post-procedure and temporary underarm swelling.
The US Food and Drug Administration have recently approved this microwave treatment.
How safe is this?
As for the safety and efficacy of microwave device treatment for reducing sweating is fairly well established. However, skin experts tell that there is less long-term data on the safety and efficacy of microwaves for hair removal.
