Archive for underarm sweating
New Axillary Hyperhidrosis Treatment Announced
Posted by: · on March 28, 2011 | CommentsThe International Hyperhidrosis Society has announced in their newsletter, called Sweat Solutions, that a new FDA approved product has been developed to treat axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the underarms). For the millions of folks who suffer from this, this news is HUGE! This treatment does not involve surgical procedures, oral medication, or multiple injections. Permanent– yes, allegedly permanent– relief is seen after two doctor visits. Really– this is the claim. (!!!)
The new treatment involves the delivery of electromagnetic energy to the underarm area. This electromagnetic energy results in the destruction of the sweat glands. You can read more about this treatment at IHHS’s SweatHelp.org. Developed by Miramar Labs, the name of the treatment is miraDry, which also has its own website.
If results are what they are claiming, and there are no serious side effects, this could be a game-changer. I don’t know about you, but MY first thought was, “Would it work on hands?” Or for that matter, other troublesome parts of the body? I could not find that question either asked or answered anywhere, but time will surely tell.
I know the axillary area is unique in that the sweat glands there are highly clustered and accessible, but it seems to me that if the sweat glands are being destroyed by electromagnetically generated heat, why SHOULDN’T it work on the hands? With the SDLA (sub-dermal laser ablation) procedure, the sweat glands are basically sucked out, which obviously would not be possible in the hands or feet. But this? I don’t know, maybe… I sure can hope, right?
I will post any updates on the exciting development. If anyone reading this either experiences this treatment or hears about its usage on other body areas, please contact me by either posting a comment here or using the Contact page. Thanks!
‘Tis the Season For Social Anxiety Fa la la la…
Posted by: · on November 30, 2010 | CommentsWell, it is official now that Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and the newer kid on the block Cyber Monday have all passed… Holiday Season 2010 is Here. Yay.
Bring on the Holiday parties, frenetic shopping, office parties (I hear they are making quite the Comeback this year). Not to be a Scrooge, but for many of us with hyperhidrosis, ‘Tis the Season to dread.
Parties, for other people, are opportunities for fun and something to be anticipated. Parties for us are something we pretend to get excited about. We fake a smile with our arms glued to our sides. Cold drink complete with sweating ice cubes clutched in right hand, thankyouverymuch. Cursing inwardly the stupid STUPID decision to wear red satin…
Sound familiar?
OK, well if you’re a guy, I do hope the red satin part is not a memory for you… not that there’s anything wrong with that (Jerry Seinfeld reference 
)… My point, and I do have one– wait, do I? Oh yes, the point is… I get it. Have lived it, too many times to want to count. And I would like to give you a little pep talk and a couple of pointers.
Please don’t feel like a freak standing there feeling all awkward at a holiday party. Put the stupid-ass sweating in its stupid-ass place and have fun anyways. Don’t give hyperhidrosis the power to ruin your evening.
Look around the room and if misery loves company, consider that statistically, you are probably not the only person present with hyperhidrosis. Three people in a hundred– and that number is conservative (IMO). You could even play a little game with yourself. Such as, Guess the Sweater (and I don’t mean knitwear).
Dress appropriately– wear the appropriate foundation wear. Guys, undershirts are made that will conceal the sweat and keep you comfortable! Check out my article on Men’s Undershirts. Ladies, there are dozens of options for you. So many, in fact, that my article on Women’s Undergarments is too long for my liking– but I wanted to show you just how many options you have. You can really wear any neckline, sleeve, or color. The feeling of confidence just knowing you are wearing something that will manage the sweat will actually make you sweat LESS. Unless it’s like 95 degrees in the room or something. In which case everyone else will be sweating, so who cares? See? Misery does love company.
If you find yourself sweating, say so. Yes, that’s right. Say. So. Casually. It totally takes the edge off and you get a little sympathy, to boot. I swear. The key is to be really casual about it. When you put it out there, you feel better, and often it will make the sweat production slow down.
So have fun, kiss someone under a bunch of dead leaves, clutch your sweating drink in your sweating hand, and thumb your nose at hyperhidrosis.
HyperhidrosisAndMe Weekly Spotlight: Sweat Management for Women
Posted by: · on August 23, 2010 | CommentsThis week’s spotlight will be shining brightly on how women with hyperhidrosis can dress with more FREEDOM by wearing the right foundation wear.
As I explain in great detail on my page on the subject, called, creatively, “Women’s Undergarments”, there are dozens of undergarments on the market that will enable you to wear almost any style, fabric and neckline with confidence.
Offered in several fabrics in various colors, most of the options involve one or both of these elements: dress shields and camisoles. For example, wearing a camisole can give you that extra layer to absorb any trunk sweating that occurs– and many post-ETS patients deal with Compensatory Sweating here– while at the same time allowing you to place a disposable dress shield upon the camisole in the area of your worst sweating. This shield is called a Body Guard and is sold by Kleinert’s, the leading purveyors of clothing for sweat management.
Camisoles for hyperhidrosis come in a terrific variety of necklines, sleeve lengths and body lengths, and they usually come with dress shields discreetly sewn in. The dress shields are offered with varying barrier levels of sweat protection.
If your main problem is underarm sweating and you feel that a camisole is overkill, you can find a plethora of discreet ways you can wear dress shields. My favorite is offered, again, by Kleinert’s and it is a washable dress shield that snaps firmly onto your bra strap. That way, the dress shield is snug up against your underarm and not weighting down your top and shifting around as you go about your day. This product is called “Ready Shield”– there is a great demonstration video for you to see if you click on the link.
If you check out my “Women’s Undergarments” page, you can see a description of all of these products and many more, and can be directed to a place to purchase them.
If you are sick and tired of wearing black or having to wear a blazer or cardigan over every top you put on, please check out your options.
…You know how your Hyperhidrosis controls so much of your life? Take control of this part of your life. You can wear what you want. It just requires a little thought and one extra step! So take it.
HyperhidrosisAndMe Weekly Spotlight: Antiperspirants
Posted by: · on August 4, 2010 | CommentsThis week I will be focusing The Spotlight on my page that introduces antiperspirants formulated for Hyperhidrosis, called, creatively, Topical Treatments (Anti-perspirants and Medicated Wipes). Having never really given much thought to types of antiperspirants before starting this site, I was staggered by the options that exist.
It quickly became clear to me that all antiperspirants can be categorized into 4 different levels:
- Regular antiperspirants– The various brands and forms of antiperspirants that people who need a normal amount of protection use.
- “Clinical-Strength” antiperspirants– These products are marketed for Hyperhidrosis and contain a higher concentration of the active ingredient aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex. These antiperspirants are most effective when applied at night, before bed, to completely dry skin. Drugstore.com has a complete selection of these antiperspirants. Click here to see for yourself.
- “Prescription-Strength” antiperspirants– Containing a different, more potent active ingredient called aluminum chloride hexahydrate, these products are definitely stronger. However, they can also cause uncomfortable side effects such as burning and itching. There are many brands on the market, and each brand attempts to prevent these side effects with slightly different approaches. If one does not work for you or has uncomfortable side effects, it is worth it to keep looking. Several of these products offer specific formulations for palmar and plantar sweating! Please click on the page link for more complete information.
- Prescription Antiperspirants such as Drysol and Hydrosal constitute the final and strongest level of antiperspirant one can buy. With up to 8% higher concentration of aluminum chloride hexahydrate, the chances of itching and burning are more significant. A Doctor’s prescription (in the United States, at least) is required.
So there you have a very abbreviated explanation of All Thing Antiperspirant. Please refer to each category’s page for more complete information, including specific side effects reported, more information on ingredients, and brands I have used and/or researched.
Also worth considering are Med e Tate Wipes (to be used as a boost while out and about rather than one’s primary antiperspirant), as well as my personal favorite, Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream, which is terribly versatile (goes Anywhere ).
Remember, no matter what your Treatment of Choice ends up being (if antiperspirants aren’t enough and you use Iontophoresis, meds, or even Botox), you will still need a good antiperspirant. Make sure you find one you really like, because knowing you are protected from odor and even hopefully from wetness can really help boost your confidence. Let’s face it, we need all of that we can get!
HyperhidrosisAndMe Weekly Spotlight: Med e Tate by DERMAdoctor
Posted by: · on July 26, 2010 | CommentsThis week I am focusing the spotlight on DERMAdoctor Med e Tate Hyperhidrosis Control Wipes. Based on the stats here on this site, there is a lot of interest about this product. You can find a full, candid review on Med e Tate on its page on HH&Me, Med e Tate by DERMAdoctor.
This product has gotten quite a lot of press over the past year, as you can see below:
I do use Med e Tate on occasion and keep a few packets in my car, in my purse, and at my desk. I will point out, though, that despite the marketing of these wipes as “an injection-free alternative to Botox”, that is really a stretch! Med e Tate can best be described as a sweat-control boost.
I recommend using Med e Tate as another weapon in your Hyperhidrosis Control Arsenal. When you are out and about and you are getting sticky, these wipes can be used anywhere (cleavage, groin, underarms,feet, hands, backs of legs, face, etc). They are cooling, cleansing, and have ingredients to control sweat– all in all, a great confidence-booster.
Still difficult to find in brick-and-mortar stores, you can find Med e Tate at Amazon.com:
Or if you prefer, DERMAdoctor Med e Tate is also available at Beauty.com:
Hyperhidrosis Gets a Little Press!
Posted by: · on July 23, 2010 | CommentsEarlier this summer, I received an email from a Public Relations agent who was helping Fox News in New York City put together a piece on a surgical procedure that alleviates Axillary Hyperhidrosis. The PR firm was looking for a person with Hyperhidrosis who would be willing to undergo this procedure on camera. I was not able to help them find someone, but it’s great that they did.
The doctor in the story, Dr. Jacobs, calls this procedure “Sweat Lipo”. This procedure, described in detail on my page “Localized Axillary Procedures”, is also known as Subdermal Laser Ablation. Basically, the idea is to suck out the sweat glands in the underarm region. Surgeons have offered variations on this procedure for years, but in the past there was a significant amount of scarring and extended recovery times. Now, because of advances in technology, surgeons are able to make a very small incision to do the surgery and there is virtually no scarring and little down time.
I think that Dr. Jacobs does a very good job concisely describing what Hyperhidrosis is and how it affects daily life.
Here is the story:
FoxNewsChannel
I want to express my admiration to the gentleman in the story who was brave enough to not only talk about his challenges on camera, but also allowed the camera crew to show his sweating up close. He did his part to show millions of viewers that Hyperhidrosis interferes with life in every way– and he was so matter of fact about it, and not ashamed. WELL DONE, SCOTT!
While surgery is always a drastic measure and comes with inherent risks, I think that this “sweat lipo” is a great option for those with Axillary Hyperhidrosis. That is, it’s a great option if done by an experienced, excellent surgeon. If you think this procedure is for you, I recommend thoroughly researching what the procedure is (start by reading my page on it, linked above) and finding a surgeon you can have confidence in. Also check into your insurance coverage and any or all costs involved. Wish they could do it for hands and feet!
