Published: June 30, 2014

You may have heard the saying that “horses sweat, gentlemen perspire and ladies feel the heat,” but by the time June rolls around in the Triangle area, all of us are sweating. The question is: What do we do about it?

Aesthetic Solutions offers several levels of intervention for patients coping with problem perspiration. The intervention we suggest usually depends on the severity of the problem, the sensitivity of the patient, as well as overall budget concerns. Let’s start with the basics.

Solution One: Everyday interventions.

These are the solutions your mother probably told you about – and that you likely already practice. Nonetheless, a solid review is always in order:

Wear loose, light-colored clothing made of natural fibers. They breathe better and will help keep you cool.
Try workout clothes made from wicking fabrics to keep moisture at bay and away from your skin.
Shower or bathe daily with anti-bacterial soap.
Use antiperspirant (not just deodorant, which only disguises smells and does not prevent wetness).
Avoid spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine, especially if you notice they trigger flushing or perspiration.

If you have tried all of the above, but you still feel hot and bothered all the time, come into Aesthetic Solutions for a consultation to decide which of the following solutions is right for you.

Solution Two: Prescription deodorant.

Depending on the severity of your sweating, a prescription-strength antiperspirant might do the trick. These doctor-prescribed treatments contain a much higher percentage of active ingredient (usually aluminum-based) than store-bought antiperspirants. For many patients, this is a quick and relatively inexpensive solution to problem perspiration.

The downside? You must use the product consistently to maintain results. Also, if you already tend to get stubborn yellow sweat stains, this problem will likely continue. These stains occur because the aluminum-based ingredients in antiperspirant interact with sweat, creating those near-impossible-to-remove yellow stains.

Solution Three: Botox.

For some people with very severe sweating, even prescription antiperspirant may not work. That’s where Botox can help.

Everybody knows that Botox can reduce or eliminate the appearance of frown lines when used regularly. But Botox can also stop the sweats, not just under the arm but also on the palms of the hand or bottoms of the feet. Botox temporarily blocks the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands. When these sweat glands don’t receive any chemical signals, the sweating simply stops.

Treatment with Botox can last from six to twelve months, and is FDA-approved. For more information, see our Botox link. Health insurance may cover this treatment, though prior authorization is generally necessary.

MiraDry: The Revolutionary Treatment:

The latest tool in the dermatological arsenal against under-arm sweating is called miraDry. It’s a new, non-invasive and incredibly effective intervention that offers a near-permanent solution for severe sweating.

The miraDry procedure directs precisely controlled energy to the region where the underarm sweat glands reside and eliminates them. Because the sweat glands do not regenerate after treatment, the results are lasting and result in a dramatic (and immediate) decrease in sweat production.

In clinical trials, patients saw an average 82 percent reduction in perspiration after a single treatment. A second treatment is recommended for maximal results, usually three months after the first. If you are interested and would like more detailed information, please see our miraDry link or come in for a consult.

We hope these solutions offer your some guidance. If you’re curious about which level of intervention is right for you, please give us a call or come in for a visit – and do it before the summer passes you by.