WASHINGTON – Too hot? Don’t sweat it, microwave it.
Last year, the FDA approved miraDry for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, more commonly known as excessive sweating.
The procedure uses microwave energy to kill sweat glands, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The parent company, Miramar Labs Inc., says there are 22,000 to 30,000 sweat glands in the armpits and this treatment kills many of those glands.
The treatment appears to last long term and sweating is reduced by 82 percent, says a scientist with the company.
Excessive sweating is often treated with Botox injections, but those treatments are temporary and must be repeated twice a year, reports the Wall Street Journal.
MiraDry procedures take about an hour and use far less energy than it takes to boil 8 ounces of water.
It costs about $3,000 for two sessions, but isn’t covered by insurance.
For more information about miraDry and to learn more about excessive sweating, visit the miraDry website.
WTOP’s David Burd contributed to this report. Follow David and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
