Health Alert: New FDA Treatment For Sweating
Stephanie Stahl reports...
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Excessive sweating is an embarrassing problem that millions struggle with. Now there's a new treatment for it. 3 On Your Side Health Reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on the new FDA approved technology.
Stephen Hickman, a salesman, has to wear a suit every day, and it used to be constantly soaked with sweat.
"Clothes were being ruined. Undershirts, I would have to buy a new pack every two weeks," said Stephen.
His solution was a machine called miraDry. It uses microwave energy to combat excessive sweating.
"Typical patients need two treatments. The first one probably gets rid of 75 to 80 percent of the sweating. And if they follow up with the second one, they'll be in the 90s, in most cases," said Dr. William Coleman, a Dermatologic Surgeon. He was one of the doctors who helped design and test the technology.
"In the underarm area, people who have trouble with a lot of sweating often have excessive numbers of sweat glands or excessively active sweat glands. This treatment won't destroy every one of them. It will take out many of them and give them a more normal sweating profile," said Dr. Coleman.
Gretha Roos, a pharmacist, remembers when she decided she had to do something.
"There was one time where I was doing a CPR class, and I'm pumping the dummy and I'm sweating. And it's so embarrassing because nobody else was sweating, except me," said Gretha.
The treatment starts with a stencil that maps the armpit, to guide the procedure. And there's a local anesthetic, so patients don't feel any pain. Then the zapping begins. Twenty minutes under each arm to dissolve the sweat glands.
Dr. Coleman says reducing underarm sweat won't cause your body to overheat.
"We have sweat glands all over our body, and if you eliminate many of the extra ones in your underarm there's no problem. You can still cool and sweat as much as you want, maybe more than you want," said Dr. Coleman.
Most people lose the hair under their arms, but the skin isn't damaged. For Stephen, one treatment was enough.
"It's actually pretty weird, but I would say it's dry. I mean completely dry under the arms for the most part, even when I exercise.
The treatment is just now becoming available around the country, expected here in a few months.
It will probably cost between $2500 - 3000, and it won't be covered by insurance.
Dr. David Goldberg, in North Jersey, is currently offering the procedure.
For more info on miraDRY, click here.
For more info on Dr. David Goldberg, click here.
Reported by Stephanie Stahl, CBS3
