Under normal circumstances, sweating is a good thing — it’s your body’s way of cooling down when you exert yourself or when outside temperatures soar. If you have overactive sweat glands, however, you may find yourself sweating up a storm no matter the temperature or your activity level. And this problem, which is called hyperhidrosis, can cause a great deal of embarrassment.
At SINY Dermatology, our team of experienced skin experts understands the quality-of-life issues that come with hyperhydrosis, which is why we offer the latest treatment protocols to put an end to embarrassing sweat.
Here’s a look at why you needn’t sweat your hyperhidrosis any longer.
Before we get into our cutting-edge treatments for hyperhidrosis, let’s take a closer look at what we’re up against. This condition, which is characterized by excessive sweating, affects your more active sweat glands, such as those in your armpits and in your palms. We highlight these two areas as they’re the ones that can cause the most embarrassment, whether it’s at work or on a date.
There are two types of hyperhidrosis — primary and secondary. With primary hyperhidrosis, the actual excessive sweating is the condition. Unfortunately, we’re not sure why some people have it, though heredity may play a role.
With secondary hyperhidrosis, you may experience excessive sweating due to another issue, such as certain medications or menopause.
However your hyperhidrosis developed, if you’re experiencing ongoing quality-of-life concerns, the good news is that we offer two highly effective solutions.
Botox has many uses outside of wrinkle reduction, and remedying hyperhidrosis is one of them. Botox contains onabotulinumtoxin A, which is a neuromodulator that temporarily blocks the secretion of the chemical that signals your glands to produce sweat.
We inject the Botox directly into the areas where you’re experiencing problems, and we place the injection in a grid-like pattern, which ensures complete coverage.
Over the days following your injections, the botulinum toxin goes to work and disrupts the messaging that causes you to sweat. This reprieve from sweating can last from several months to a year or more, and as soon as the effects begin to wear off, you can simply return to us for another round of injections.
Botox is cleared by the FDA for use in your armpits, but we can also apply the technique to your hands if sweaty palms are a problem.
To tackle hyperhidrosis under your arms, we offer miraDry, which is a system that delivers thermal energy into the glands that are responsible for sweat and odor. What’s important to note is that miraDry offers long-term results, because once we destroy these glands, they’re gone for good.
The miraDry treatment typically lasts about an hour, and we may administer a topical anesthetic for your comfort. After your treatment, you’re free to return home afterward.
If you’d like to learn more about our hyperhidrosis treatments and which one is right for you, we invite you to contact one of our five New York City offices in Park Slope, Bay Ridge, the West Village, Upper East Side, or Forest Hills.
