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Health & Wellness | Feeling Healthy
Health
&
Wellness
ergy, which targets the sweat
glands and destroys them.
This treatment is the first
permanent noninvasive treatment
for underarm sweating
with a greater than 90% satisfaction
rate. Only available at
Gulf Coast Dermatology, this
technology has improved the
lives of patients who were embarrassed
by their condition.
Don’t Sweat it!
By Dr. Jon Ward
• Underarm sweating, or
axillary hyperhidrosis, is a
medical condition with an
unknown cause that affects
nearly 5 million Americans. It
generally begins in adolescence
and persists well into
late adulthood. The impact it
has on those suffering from it
can be severe, particularly in
teenagers and adult women.
Patients with hyperhydrosis
often avoid wearing certain
colors of clothing. They
may apply antiperspirants
throughout the day and frequently
blot their underarms
to remove excessive moisture.
Many must professionally
launder sweat stains out of
clothing. In extreme cases,
hyperhidrosis leads to social
isolation, depression, and
even suicide.
Until now, no solution has
been completely adequate
to address this problem.
Prescription antiperspirants
can help, but they irritate the
skin and can lead to yellow
staining of clothing. A
machine that uses an electric
current has shown positive
results, but it is cumbersome
to use and time consuming.
Pills that block the sweat
nerves can be used, but they
have side effects that include
drowsiness and nausea. The
most recent trend in treatment
includes injection of a
neurotoxin, which is effective
for six months, but must be
repeated and is expensive.
At the most invasive level
some sufferers visit spinal
surgeons who sever the
nerves that go to the
underarm sweat glands, a
procedure called thoracic
sympathectomy. Unfortunately,
even the surgery is
not fully effective and can
leave patients with devastating
neurologic outcomes if
there are complications.
A convenient and effective
treatment for hyperhidrosis
has finally arisen: miraDry.
miraDry is a new device that
uses electromagnetic en-
The teenager who would
not raise her hand at school
can now show her teachers
and peers just how much
she knows. The woman
who would only wear black
because it was the sole
clothing color that hid her
sweat can now open up her
wardrobe to an array of new
options. The man that would
not remove his suit coat even
though he was uncomfortably
warm can now take off
that coat with confidence
thanks to miraDry.
The study used to gain
FDA approval for miraDry
not only showed sweat
reduction, but also showed
significant reduction in body
odor. Bromhidrosis, or body
odor, previously had no
known treatments except
deodorants.
The total cost of the procedure
is between $2,400-4,000
depending on the number
of treatments needed for
desired results, but most
patients are satisfied with just
one treatment.
9
Gulf Coast Dermatology
Gulf Coast Dermatology is dedicated to making the best possible care available and convenient for you. We are using cutting-edge
cancer treatments (including Mohs surgery and Radiotheraphy) to achieve the best results for our patients. Mohs
surgery offers the highest success rate in fighting skin cancer, and Radiotheraphy is a non-surgical, cosmetically superior option
that is sometimes appropriate. Headquartered in Panama City, and with brand new state-of-the-art facilities in Panama
City Beach and Santa Rosa Beach, Gulf Coast Dermatology is proud to offer ease of location and appointments. Visit us for a
skin-cancer screening, or to address any other skin condition including Rosacea, acne, unsightly veins or cosmetic issues ranging
from age spots to wrinkles. You can also follow us on Facebook for the latest deals, or to learn skin care tips from medical
professionals. Why trust your skin to anyone else? Call (877) 231-3376 today, and be seen this week.
26 THE CIRCUIT September/October 2012