Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can be a bothersome condition that affects various parts of the body, including the underarms, palms, feet, and face. At Brisbane Skin we can determine the most appropriate treatment plan based on the severity and underlying cause of excessive sweating.
Common Excess Sweating Solutions
- Oral Medications – Pills known as anticholinergics cause whole-body dryness. Unfortunately they may also cause side-effects such as unpleasant dry eyes and irritating dry mouth.
- Iontophoresis – One of the treatments of choice for sweating of the palms and soles. Minerals are passed through the skin by an electrical current in an iontophoresis machine, leading to a reduction of the activity of sweat glands. Treatment starts at 3 sessions a week, but gradually decreases to 1-2 treatments as maintenance per fortnight.
- Anti-Sweat Injections: These injections can be administered to specific areas to temporarily block the nerves that trigger sweat production. This treatment is often used for underarm sweating but can also be effective for other areas of the body.
- miraDry: Miradry is a non-invasive treatment specifically designed to address excessive underarm sweating, also known as axillary hyperhidrosis. It utilises microwave technology to target and eliminate sweat glands in the underarm area.
Treatments & Medicare Rebates
Hyperhidrosis is a medical problem, not just a cosmetic one, so some treatments are covered by Medicare. It means sweating way more than needed to cool down the body. This condition affects about 2 to 5 percent of people and can cause anxiety, embarrassment, and feeling left out.
Medicare offers coverage for a substantial portion of this treatment when conducted by a specialised Dermatologist. This is because axillary hyperhidrosis constitutes a medical necessity rather than a cosmetic procedure, despite misleading advertisements by many cosmetic clinics.
The condition for qualifying for a Medicare rebate is attempting, at minimum, the use of aluminum chloride hexahydrate antiperspirants before opting for anti-sweat injections to address excessive underarm sweating.
Permanent Sweat Reduction with miraDry
During the Miradry procedure, electromagnetic energy is delivered to the sweat glands, heating and eliminating them. The treatment is performed at Brisbane Skin and does not require anesthesia. Most patients experience a significant reduction in underarm sweating after just one or two sessions.
Miradry is considered a long-lasting solution for axillary hyperhidrosis, as the destroyed sweat glands do not regenerate. Additionally, the treatment can also reduce underarm odor and hair in the treated area.
Miradry is a specialised treatment for excessive underarm sweating, utilising microwave technology to eliminate sweat glands, and it is a non-invasive alternative to surgical procedures like endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS).
About Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
What is hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis is the medical terminology for excessive and uncontrollable sweating, affecting over 110,000 patients in Australia.
The inability to control perspiration, is a problem that often starts during teenage years, it can lead to tremendous self-consciousness, loss of self-esteem and reluctance to participate in everyday activities.
Sweating is a natural, normal and important bodily function that helps keep your body cool and free of toxins. For a minority of people, though, excessive sweating can lead to social awkwardness and embarrassment.
In Australia, where so many of us enjoy an active lifestyle, this can be a real problem.
“3% of the world’s population is affected and the consequences can be disabling” – Medical News Today
The basics of hyperhidrosis
It is normal to sweat excessively if the temperature is elevated, you have been performing a strenuous activity, or if you have a fever.
Excessive sweating that may require treatment, on the other hand, is defined as:
“Sweating an amount out of proportion with the temperature of a room or your activity level” – Mayo Clinic
There are two kinds of hyperhidrosis – focal hyperhidrosis and generalised hyperhidrosis.
In focal hyperhidrosis, excess sweating is confined to a single area of the body with a relatively high concentration of sweat glands, including:
- Underarms
- Face
- Palms
- Soles
- Groin
In generalised hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating is experienced over the entire body.
The first step towards banishing excess sweat
The good news is that the majority of patients who suffer from excessive sweating respond well when their hyperhidrosis is treated. The first step towards ensuring that success is a consultation at our clinic.
One of our doctors who will take your medical history, examine you and discuss the specifics of your problem perspiration. Based on this, your dermatologist will prescribe the best solution for you.
Another topic that will be covered during a preliminary consultation for hyperhidrosis treatments at Brisbane Skin will be your expectations. A realistic perspective about what this treatment can accomplish for your problem perspiration is a major factor in a successful outcome.
Advanced Treatments for Excessive Sweating
Advanced solutions for excessive sweating explained in greater detail!
Brisbane Skin is dedicated to patient satisfaction, and our dermatologists use all the tools and techniques at their disposal to help our patients look and feel their best. When it comes to treating excess perspiration problems, we are thrilled with two modern solutions that are extremely effective without being invasive:
- Anti-Sweat Injections for Excessive Sweating – The same muscle relaxant that millions of people use to reduce facial wrinkles can also be used to treat excessive sweating. A series of very fine injections are administered to the affected area. The treatment takes less than five minutes, is extremely effective for several months, after which treatment it can be repeated. In general, this treatment is effective for approximately six months, however this can vary depending on the individual.
People with severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis are eligible for treatment under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) if they are (1) over 12 years of age; (2) intolerant to topical aluminium chloride hexahydrate (found in antiperspirants such as Driclor™) after one or two months of treatment; (3) treated by a PBS-registered dermatologist or neurologist.
- miraDry permanent sweat reduction – Our patients have been thrilled with the results offered by this non-invasive new treatment protocol with long-lasting benefits that rival any other treatment. There is no downtime associated with the treatment, and results are usually permanent. It is currently used for treating excessive sweating in the armpits. Tests are still being conducted to determine whether it is appropriate for other parts of the body.