Original article here

Excessive Sweating Targeted by New Procedure

Everyone sweats but for some people the problem is so severe that they do not even want to leave their homes.

“It’s really emotional. It’s stressful,” said Briana Bernyk, who suffers from sweating so severely that she even skipped her high school prom.

“I didn’t want to go through the whole hassle of picking out a dress, so I blew it off,” she told “Good Morning America.”

Bernyk, 20, of Massachusetts, sweats so profusely under her armpits that she often has to throw shirts away after one use and wears layers to better protect herself. She also uses just one color in her wardrobe, black, in order to camouflage her ailment.

Miradry video – opens in new window

“From sweatshirts to fancy shirts, everything I have is black,” she said.

After trying topical solutions and even Botox to help lighten her sweating, Bernyk turned to what is being heralded as the latest fix for underarm sweating, a procedure known as miraDry.

“It’s not that they don’t sweat at all. They just sweat like a normal person,” said Dr. Michael Kaminer, a Boston-based cosmetic surgeon and the managing partner of SkinCare Physicians who performed the procedure on Bernyk, said of the results.

The nonsurgical procedure became available to patients in January after being approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year. While the patient’s armpit is placed under local anesthesia, microwave energy is used to melt the as many as 33,000 sweat glands in the armpits to stop the patient’s hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating.

The company behind the procedure, Miramar Labs Inc. in Sunnyvale, Calif., says, on average, the overall volume of sweat is reduced by an average of 82 percent and lasts for nearly one year, according to its website.

Some medical experts say they are waiting for longer-term, independent data on the procedure, which can cost between $2,500 and $3,000 for two sessions and is not covered by insurance.

For Bernyk and other patients, the results speak for themselves.

“Now it’s just exciting to go out. I can wear what I want,” she said. “Before I was nervous about going out…uncomfortable and always in a cover up….[Now] I can hold them [my arms] on my hips and I can fix my hair in public.”

What does underarm sweat have to do with armpit acne?

Armpits.

Not a topic for everyday casual conversation. More often than not, this part of our bodies is a cause of insecurity—despite what the deodorant commercials show, most of us probably wouldn’t dare lift our underarms into the air so unselfconsciously particularly on a hot day in public. It’s also a source of inconvenience for women, as most of our fashion choices (sleeveless, cap sleeves, or long sleeves?) end up hinging on the state of our armpits. Of all the body parts we possess, this is one of those parts that tend to make us stressed out in an already-stressed out life.

Maintaining the hygiene of our underarms is as important as maintaining the hygiene for the rest of our bodies, as it is of the most sensitive parts. But many of us, in the hastiest of our lifestyles, usually focus on only two grooming aspects—keeping our underarms hair-free (especially for women), and keeping them from smelling. So we shave, spray, and use roll-ons with abandon, but fail to realize that improper care can cause skin trouble to our armpits.

Armpit acne is caused by a myriad of things. Certain fabrics and underarm products can irritate the skin. Improper shaving can result in “razor bumps”. But most commonly, armpit acne is caused, like the pimples on our faces, by the clogging of the pores with oil and bacteria. When left untreated, armpit acne can worsen and turn into serious skin problems.

Damp armpits don’t just increase the chances of body odor, but also traps bacteria. Combined with dirt from the air and the oils our bodies naturally possess, the skin becomes inflamed and becomes a pimple. These pimples can become painful, and are often filled with pus.

Solutions to sweating

Inability to control underarm sweating when you’ve developed one of these can lead to the pimple sticking around for a very long time, as the sweat continues to feed bacteria into the wound. Thus, the sweat glands in your underarm may end up become inflamed and infected. To prevent this, it is important to always keep our armpits clean and dry by using powders, or by regularly wiping sweat away. Many people would opt for antiperspirants, but this can end up worsening things as antiperspirants themselves clog pores to keep sweat from coming out. Badly clogged armpits can result in the inflammation of the sweat glands causing abscesses, which are infections caused by staph bacteria and require medical attention in order to heal.

Damp armpits also cause skin rashes on hot, humid days. Known as heat rashes, these are red, itchy rashes caused by the heat and the material of your clothing. Sometimes, the rashes develop whiteheads. On such days, you’ll want to wear light, airy fabrics that enable the breeze to pass through your clothes easily, eliminating sweat and odor constantly. You also want to avoid shaving, as improper shaving can cause hair follicles to be trapped under the skin causing irritation.

Armpit acne can be treated by bathing thoroughly and regularly, using creams and soaps containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide that dry out pimples and pus. It is important to dry your underarms properly after showering to prevent dampness. Pimple creams created for facial use can be used safely on underarms. As these dry out even unaffected skin, always use a non-greasy moisturizing lotion afterwards. Cutting down on greasy food is also advisable in order to prevent overproduction of oil in our systems. When using deodorants, it’s best to go for a hypoallergenic one without fragrances that can further irritate the skin. When armpit acne is severe, though, do not hesitate to approach your dermatologist, who can provide prescription medicines suiting your current needs.

We don’t have to get to that point, though. Maintaining proper hygiene can keep us from developing armpit acne in the first place. Other additional tips for proper underarm care include exfoliating occasionally, using light scrubs in order to remove dead skin cells and lingering dirt. A regular routine of underarm hair removal through methods like waxing, plucking, or using depilatory creams is also advised in order to prevent BO. With a little effort and dedication, your underarms don’t have to be your enemy anymore.

Author bio:
Beth Coleman is a Gym Junkie, a Vegan, she never eats meet and the likes. She also has a passion in cooking and formulating vegan recipes.Follow her adventures on her Twitter.

Research Study Using a Radiofrequency (RF) Device to Treat Excessive Underarm Sweating

Volunteers are needed to participate in a research study that utilizes a non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) device to treat excessive underarm sweating.

Eligible participants must be male or female between the ages of 20 and 65 years of age, must be in good health, and must not be pregnant.

The Study consists of one to two treatments and three additional follow-up visits and lasts approximately 7 months.

Treatment will be provided at no charge.

For more information on the Study,
please contact Dennell Krzyzanowski at (510) 780-4680.

I decided to split the blog from the testimonials to make everything easier to find.

Hydrosal website
Hydrosal customer testimonials
Forum link blog
Forum link testimonials

“Hi, I’m from Australia and I would like to say, I would pay whatever dollar to fix up my sweaty arm pit problem, and then I came across Hydrosal!. I just would like to say there is no other product that works as good as this. and I have tried every single product out there and this is by far the best! I will keep using this product until I stop having this problem. Thanks, Jason ”

Jason
“I would like to bring to your attention, that I have tried the product that my doctor has recommended Hydrosal. For the pass thirty years I suffered in complete embarrassment, severe sweating from the forehead, and other body areas.
This sweating was triggered by nervousness on my confrontation of an individual that I met, or dealt with on first time basis.
The more I realized I was sweating, the more severe it became. It was devastating for me, and I spoke to many doctors with really no feed back from them. Meeting Dr Benohanian was for me a miracle; Life has given me a second chance. Hydrosal is amazing and very easy to apply with almost 90 to 95 % effective rate for me. Keep up the good work and create more beneficial products like Hydrosal!! Thanks again. ”

Allan
“Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I have suffered from excessive sweating as long as I can remember…..the last 10 years specifically, have been the worst. I was ready to have surgery to have my sweat glands removed in my arm pits as nothing seemed to work. My doctor called me 2 weeks ago to tell me about an article that she read in the paper about Hydrosal Professional. After the first 2 days it started to sting a little when I applied the gel, but I got over that fast when I realized that it was working. I just finished my 7 days and have not sweat at all in 5 days. I am absolutely thrilled and hope that others will try this too. I realize that sweating is an embarrassing issue and I myself didn’t talk about it much with other people, but it’s kind of obvious when you can see it through your clothing. Since I no longer have this problem I have been telling my friends and family about it because I know how difficult dealing with this issue is and how much it affects your life. I am surprised to hear how many other people have excessive sweating also. Thanks again and I will continue to spread knowledge about this great product! ”

Jennifer
“Before Hydrosal I would always have to worry about sweat stains in the shirts I used to wear. Now after using Hydrosal I can wear any color I want in any fabric. Hydrosal worked fast too; after 2 days I could already see the results – no more sweat stains. I highly recommend Hydrosal to anybody who has had it with those extremely embarrassing sweat stains and doesn’t want to worry about them anymore! ”

Julia
“My story began in high school. Whenever I had a big exam or had to do a presentation in class, I would start to perspire. I tried many different deodorants, changing deodorants almost every other day. I wore dark clothing, trying to mask my condition. I started purchasing only cotton garments as well in an attempt to hide the perspiration. When the condition was at its worst, I would place many tissues or a small towel under my shirt to contain the perspiration. I would have to change clothing once I arrived at an event due to the excessive perspiration. Ten years later, a friend of mine saw an Oprah show on “Hyperhydrosis” and how this was a known medical condition. From her information, I did some research online and found a doctor in Montreal that specialized in the treatment of Hyperhydrosis. The doctor prescribed “Hydrosal”. I put some on everyday for seven days before bed, and it worked! After that, I only need to apply the gel once a week and it continues to work. I’ve been using the gel for two months now. “Hydrosal” does not have any odor, has not caused any discomfort, and has removed my worries about public embarrassment. Thank you for helping me get over my embarrassing condition. ”

Sophia
“I am delighted to see that after 34 years of experience as a dermatologist, Valeo Pharma is bringing Hydrosal Professional to America. I have had the rare opportunity of treating over 7000 patients suffering from excessive sweating; the affected sites were the underarms, hands, feet,face and groins. Some of them were unquestionably candidates for surgery. Hydrosal, a new first line treatment for excessive sweating, consists of aluminum chloride hexahydrate in a proprietary gel base.Studies have demonstrated that a gel vehicle is better tolerated than an alcohol solution and that may be the reason why such preparations have improved efficacy and are better tolerated. I highly recommend this product as a first line treatment before considering Iontophoresis, Botox® injections or surgery. ”

Antranik Benohanian MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Benohanian is a Dermatologist at the Montreal University Hospital Center (Saint-Luc Hospital)
“I’ve had plantar hyperhidrosis since childhood, but figured I’d have to suffer through it. This winter my sweaty feet got so wet and cold that I got 2nd degree frostbite on two toes, so I became desperate to find something to help. I found Hydrosal Gel while researching iontophoresis online. I was skeptical but am thrilled with the results! Noticeable difference after two nights and I haven’t had to re-apply for two weeks now (plus, I’m in Hawaii where it’s much warmer than Calgary). My feet are sweat-free but the skin is not dehydrated or itchy. I’m so glad to have found this terrific product! Will also add that the service from Well.ca was great, along with the best price plus free-shipping. Thank you!! ”

well.ca customer
“It’s awesome – if you take any prescription medication and the side effect is that you are sweating buckets… well, this is a true life saver. Also a great thing to put on if you want to go out all night dancing as you will not sweat. I am sure the company can improve in the area of how often to apply. Apart from that, if you don’t take medication and just have hyperhydrosis, you would have to use it a lot less after the first week. ”

well.ca customer
“This stuff really works! I’ve had excessive sweating for years and had pretty much given up on finding a solution.

I tried Hydrosal gel and after a few days the sweating was gone. Now I only use it a few nights a week. Let’s say I stop using it for a few days. All I have to do is start using it again and by the 2nd night the sweating has stopped again. ”

well.ca customer
“I read on the net about this product and thought I would give it a go. I have a little bit of a face perspire issue in tight places like bars where people may be elbow to elbow, or job interviews with stress. I bought it, LOVE it! I use it only when needed before a situation and its all win. HIGHLY recommended and supplier is good also. ”

well.ca customer
“ I have never used any product that works as well as Hydrosal Gel. ”

well.ca customer
“ This stuff is a life saver! ”

well.ca customer

Hydrosal website
Hydrosal customer testimonials
Forum link blog
Forum link testimonials

I’ve recently been trying Hydrosal Antiperspirant. It’s a clear, colorless, odorless, topical gel that you apply (sparingly) to your underarm area. Hydrosal is great for treating hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). It’s a unique formulation developed by dermatologists, Hydrosal Gel contains the highly effective ingredient aluminum chloride hexahydrate delivered in a simple gel base. It’s simple to use. Wash and thoroughly dry the area to be treated, apply Hydrosal every night for seven nights at bed time, then continue as needed or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Hydrosal Gel is specially formulated for people who suffer with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). The gel contains 15% aluminum chloride hexahydrate, a concentration proven to be more effective than other aluminum salts typically used in regular antiperspirants. The gel base means that Hydrosal has a low risk of irritation. Studies have shown the gel formulation is better tolerated than an alcohol solution found in many other products available for treating excessive sweating. In addition to reducing perspiration, Hydrosal Gel also helps to reduce underarm odor.

How To Use Hydrosal Gel
It is recommended that you wash and dry the area to be treated prior to application. A hair dryer set on “cool” could be used if necessary. A small quantity should be applied for seven consecutive nights at bedtime, then continued as needed. If you have sensitive skin, two to three treatments per week at bedtime are initially recommended. For minor irritations, a hydrocortisone cream could be applied an hour before the application of the gel and 15 minutes later if needed. If irritation persists, stop the medication and contact your doctor. Hydrosal Gel should not be applied to irritated, freshly shaved, or broken skin.

Side Effects
Hydrosal Gel is generally well tolerated by most people. However, along with most products, it does have the ability to irritate skin. If irritation persists, stop using Hydrosal Gel and contact your doctor.

The first time I tried Hydrosal was a bit hit and miss. Learning to use any new product and getting to know how to get the best out of it can take a while. The first night I used it, I went overboard on the amount I used. I had enough for four underarms but since I couldn’t get it back into the bottle, I slathered it on. Not surprisingly, the next morning my armpits were burning. I’d been trialling another product that had burned my skin so I decided to leave Hydrosal for a few weeks. Once my skin had healed, I used less of the gel. The next morning, my skin was still itchy so I left it another couple of weeks before trying again. Having done some research on products in general, I decided to use it within the hairline only, and sparingly at that. Tip: if you can’t get your skin bone dry prior to using a product, use a hairdryer on cool setting or dust lightly with some talc. This helped a great deal because my skin was slightly damp when I applied it. That was possibly one of the reasons my delicate skin became sore and itchy. Anyway. My trial eventually worked! I had to experiment with where to place the gel, if I used it outside of the ‘hair line’, or used too much, or used after shaving, it set me back a few days. Now I’ve fine tuned it, I’m very happy with the results! The bottle lasts for ages too.

Hydrosal was recently featured in a journal article published in the July 2011 issue of Cutis by Dr. Woolery-Lloyd and Dr. Valins from the University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. The article highlights Hydrosal’s efficacy as cotherapy with Botox for people who obtain a suboptimal response from treatment with Botox alone. The patients included suffered from moderate to severe hyperhidrosis, on the HDSS scale a 3 or 4. All participants reached 75-100% response rate with cotherapy and no irritation was observed.

I know Botox injections can be quite painful, and this cotherapy allows for minimizing breakthrough sweating and extending the duration of treatment, both fabulous for the patient health and wallet!

Back in June we were very kindly given a number of Perspirex antiperspirants to give away in a free prize draw. Blog link

How many of you have tried Persirex? It’s really simple to use and works for a great many people. Here’s some more information about it.

- With a unique, patented, refined formulation, Perspirex demonstrates 65% sweat reduction for 3-5 days, offering the best protection on the market from excessive sweat and odour. Perspirex means an end to uncomfortable sweating and embarrassing sweat patches. Simple to

Perspirex Antiperspirant

- How do I use Perspirex? Apply at night, when sweat glands are least active, before going to bed to completely dry, unbroken skin and allow to dry before dressing. Wash as normal in the morning, there is no need to reapply. One application will keep you protected for 3-5 days, so you only need to apply 2-3 times a week.

- How does Perspirex work? Perspirex reacts with water in the sweat glands to form a keratin plug to seal the gland, temporarily causing it to go dormant so you simply sweat significantly less. The process is completely safe and the plug will naturally dispel with the natural shedding of your skin. The refined formulation minimises irritation, suitable for even the most delicate skin.

Perspirex

- Why should I trust Perspirex? Perspirex is highly effective thanks to it’s alcohol-based, aluminum chloride and lactate solution.

- Where can I find Perspirex? Perspirex (25ml) is normally priced at £7.69 and available from Boots, Superdrug, leading supermarkets and chemists nationwide. For more information and stockists visit www.perspirex.co.uk.

I’ve been reading information given on the NHS Choices website regarding ETS. They have renamed it VATS – Video Assisted Thoracic Sympathectomy. It’s exactly the same outcome as ETS. Please note below they don’t actually mention death (of which there have been far too many) as a possibility…

FORUM LINK opens in new window

VATS – Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy (VATS) is the most widely used type of surgery to treat hyperhidrosis. VATS is usually recommended to treat cases of hyperhidrosis that have failed to respond to other types of treatment.

During the procedure, a surgeon will make two small incisions on the side of your chest and remove some of the nerve tissue that runs from your sympathetic nervous system to the affected sweat glands.

VATS can be used to treat excessive sweating of the armpits, face and hands. However, treating excessive sweating of the feet it is not recommended because the operation carries a risk of causing permanent sexual dysfunction, such as impotence. This is because damage to the part of the sympathetic nervous system that runs down the back and into the legs could also damage the nerves that are connected to the genitals.

So far, VATS has been moderately successful in treating hyperhidrosis. However, the operation does carry a significant risk of associated side effects as outlined below.
The most common side effect of VATS is excessive sweating in another part of the body, usually the lower back or upper thighs. This is known as compensatory sweating.

It is thought that almost all people who have the VATS procedure will experience some degree of mild compensatory sweating. However, an estimated 1 in 20 people will develop a more severe form of compensatory sweating. This is more likely to happen if you are obese.
Other side effects of VATS include:

sweating of the face and neck after eating food – this is known as gustatory sweating and it is thought to affect around 1 in 20 people

phantom sweating – an unusual side effect where a person feels like they are about to break out in a sweat but never actually do (this affects just under half of people who have VATS and usually improves with time)

increased sensitivity to cold

dry hands

changes in how things taste

It is unclear exactly how common the last three side effects listed above are, because reports vary widely.

Complications that develop as a result of VATS are much less common. However, one possible complication is known as Homer’s syndrome. This affects one side of the face and makes the eye droopy, which can sometimes make it difficult to open. The affected half of the face is also unable to sweat.

Homer’s syndrome is caused by accidental damage to the nervous system, which may not be possible to repair. It is thought that people who have the VATS procedure have a 1 in 250 chance of developing Homer’s syndrome following surgery.

Other complications of VATS can include:

Air that becomes trapped between the layers of the lung, which can cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. This is known as pneumothorax and it usually resolves without the need for treatment. If treatment is required, a tube can be inserted into the lung to draw the air out.

Post-operative infection – a rare complication occurring in around only 1 in a 1,000 cases.

I’m sure Louise Field’s family would be very disappointed in this, it’s as though nothing has been learned from her (and other people’s) tragic death.

As promised in our recent newsletter, we have another new giveaway for you all!

FORUM LINK

Kleinerts has been around for many years and brought many new products to the Hyperhidrosis market.

We have TEN free boxes of their Sweat Shield Wipes to give away to ten lucky recipients. Each box is enough for up to two whole months of protection against sweat. Each box is worth $16.99 so it’s a prize that’s well worth having.

What could these wipes do for you?:

- CLINICALLY TESTED
- NO IRRITATION WITH EXTRA ALOES ADDED
- WATERPROOF THROUGH SHOWERING
- EASY TO APPLY ANYWHERE-CONVENIENT PACKETS
- SAFE FOR UNDERARMS, FACE, HANDS, CHEST, BACK OR FEET
- (PLEASE KEEP AWAY FROM YOUR EYES)

Sweat Shield® safely and effectively treats hyperhidrosis and excessive sweating anywhere with a simple, once-a-week application.

Sweat Shield® is formulated to safely block the sweat glands, protect against irritation, and soothe your skin.

Increase your confidence and save on laundry bills while Sweat Shield® keeps you dry all day, every day!

How Does Sweat Shield® Work?

Sweat Shield® is a liquid formula, soaked on a soft, non-woven pad. Once a week before bedtime, open one of the packets and dab (do not rub) the disposable pad thoroughly under the arms within the hairline. Allow your underarms to air dry for a few minutes, and then go to bed. During the night when your sweat glands are less active, Sweat Shield® will safely form a block in your sweat glands that will last a week. It will not wash off, it does not leave any film, and you won’t even know it’s there, except that you won’t be sweating. In the morning you can shower, shave and get on with your life, sweat free. The Sweat Shield® formula and its application method was created by a clinical research lab who has many years of research experience in the production of antiperspirant products.

HOW TO ENTER:

This free-to-enter giveaway competition couldn’t be simpler to enter.

1. Send an email to kleinerts@verysweatybetty.com
2. You MUST include ‘kleinerts giveaway’ in the subject line
3. You MUST include your verysweatybetty forum member name in the body of the email
4. You can enter as many times as you like – although that doesn’t mean you can win more than once!
5. The winners will be chosen entirely at random and notified once the competition has closed on 31st August 2011
6. Please note, Kleinerts Sweat Shield Wipes free giveaway is open to North America residents only.

Good luck!

This is a final reminder to everyone that this giveaway ends tomorrow. If you haven’t already entered, please click HERE and follow the instructions on how to enter. It’s totally FREE and we have TEN bottles of Perspirex up for grabs.

Good luck!

As it’s Monday, we thought we’d bring you something to smile about, another free giveaway!

This time it’s for Klima’s signature product, their hugely popular underarm antiperspirant spray. We have TEN to give away free. This is only for USA residents this time. Please see the end of this blog for how to enter this giveaway. Don’t worry, it will only take a few seconds!

Forum link

Known Worldwide as a leader in this industry, Klima Health Solutions supplies the most efficient antiperspirants and deodorants for the treatment and prevention of extreme sweating. Klima Health Solutions also offer a range of clinical-strengh products, designed to combat other skin, hair and body conditions. You may have heard about our products from your Dermatologist, Podiatrist, Pharmacist or Salon. From underarm odor to scalp odor, acne to keratosis, you can trust Klima Health Solutions for top of the line skin, hair and body products.

Klima specializes in treating:
Extreme Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Skin Conditions (Dermatitis)

With thousands of testimonials from doctors, dermatology clinics and podiatrists from all over the World, Klima Health comes highly recommended. Many of our customers tell us that before they tried Klima, they had given up hope.

“I just have to send this to express my gratitude. Your products and company are great. You guys are really on top of things. I have had problems with sweating under my arms since I was about 10. I am 26 now and the problem has been resolved. I think I am still in disbelief! These products really work! The people that make them and send them – hats off to you.” – Lisa

“I wanted to let you know that I received my package last week, and I have been using the products as directed since. I can already see much improvement, which is amazing to me since I sincerely have tried everything else available short of Botox and surgery. You are literally changing my life for the better, and I could never thank you enough for this.” – Camila

“Thank you so much for making these awesome antiperspirants! I used to use Drysol and before that, Certain Dri, but neither worked even half as well as Klima!” – Robert

If you’d like to read more testimonials, there’s plenty here

Klima also have their own YouTube channel with customer video testimonials

Klima’s online commercials

Very Sweaty Betty also has a channel and you’ll see Anne’s tv documentaries here

Below is Klima’s most recent commercial and it’s well worth a watch!

________________________________________

Klima Antiperspirant free giveaway

Rules of entry:
1. Send an email to klima@verysweatybetty.com and enter ‘Klima giveaway’ in the subject line.
2. You must include your VerySweatyBetty forum name in the body of the email.
3. You can enter as many times as you like but you can’t win more than once!
4. This giveaway is valid until August 15th.
5. Successful applicants will be chosen at random and notified accordingly.
6. Please be aware this particular promotional giveaway is only valid if you live in the USA.

That’s it – good luck everyone!

We have a new giveaway later this week so please check back! It’s open to everyone, no matter where you live.