miraDry®

miraDry is a completetely new type of treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating) that was cleared by the US FDA in January 2011. This is the first novel treatment option of hyperhidrosis to be introduced in nearly 7 years! miraDry is currently being introduced in the US and is available in select locations.

As of April 2012, clinical data from two study sites affiliated with the University of British Columbia showed miraDry successful in reducing underarm sweat in over 90% of patients through the final study visit--12 months after treatment. The average sweat reduction was 82%. And, patients  rated their satisfaction with the treatment at 90%. miraDry has been developed by Miramar Labs of Sunnyvale, California. 

While miraDry is promising news for those who suffer with underarm sweating, it cannot be used to treat excessive sweating in other areas such as sweaty hands or sweaty feet because the procedure requires an underlying layer of fat. Underarms have this, but hands and feet do not. Become familiar with the research findings, and understand the procedure for miraDry here.

miraDry uses a non-invasive handheld device to deliver precisely controlled electromagnetic energy beneath the underarm skin to the specific location of sweat glands, resulting in thermolysis (decomposition by heat) of the sweat glands. While the sweat glands are being eliminated through electromagnetic technology, the top layers of the skin are simultaneously cooled and protected. Sweat glands do not grow back after treatment so the effect can be seen almost immediately and results are lasting. For best results, two procedures spaced three months apart are recommended.

While Miramar Labs is the first and only company to gain official FDA clearance to use electromagnetic energy to combat excessive sweating through eliminating or damaging sweat glands, the technology has been used safely in other areas of medicine for years. Established medical uses of electromagnetic energy include applications for cardiology, cosmetics, general surgery, urology, and oncology.

Outpatient physician visits for miraDry treatment typically take one hour during which a physician administers local anesthesia (usually lidocaine injections) and then uses the miraDry handheld device to deliver electromagnetic energy non-invasively to the underarms. The miraDry device cools the outer layer of the skin and patients usually experience little to no discomfort during the procedure. There is minimal to no downtime afterwards. A mild over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs are generally recommended for a few days. Most patients are able to return to normal activities or work right after the procedure, and can typically resume exercise within several days. 

The safety data from the three clinical studies of miraDry has been reported as very good. Common side effects include mild to moderate temporary swelling and discomfort in the treatment area lasting about one week. Mild numbness or altered sensation of the skin in the underarm area can last several months. While sweating is an essential body function for temperature-control, the underarms house less than 2% of the body's sweat glands. The elimination of these sweat glands should have no effect on body thermoregulation and compensatory sweating (sweating on other body parts, common after ETS surgery) has not been shown to be a concern.

“Prior to the miraDry procedure, there were limited options available for treating axillary hyperhidrosis, none of which offered a lasting, non-invasive solution. While temporary, non-invasive solutions and local surgery have been available, miraDry provides my patients with the opportunity for a truly lasting solution in a non-invasive office procedure,”

said Dr. William P. Coleman III in a Miramar press release in February 2011. Coleman is Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Adjunct Professor of Surgery at Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Founder of Coleman Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Center in Metairie, Louisiana, and Past-President of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.