Hyperhidrosis (or excessive sweating for those who haven’t heard of it) can be tough to manage. Most people who suffer with it are familiar with all the tricks to hide it. Relegating your wardrobe to mostly black pieces of clothing, wearing moisture-wicking fabrics, slathering on aluminum-filled anti-perspirants, and balled up tissues in your pockets at all times. It’s no fun when you're always trying to hide it, and worrying about what other people will think if they notice it can be embarrassing. And while dermatologists know this isn’t a hygiene issue for people who suffer with it, the general population is mostly unaware. So if you’re tired of perpetually looking like you just left the gym after a grueling workout because of your overactive sweat glands, here are two simple solutions for temporary or permanent relief.
Botox
If you have hyperhidrosis, you’ve probably heard of this approach. Botox works by temporarily blocking the nerve signals that trigger your sweat glands to start producing perspiration. It works like a charm, but it is temporary. The effects of botox will kick in after 2-7 days, and your sweating will stop for about 3-6 months (for some people it might last a little longer). It’s certainly a good way to stop it if you want to eliminate sweating and you’re ok with repeatedly returning for treatment as needed. But what if you want the problem to go away permanently?
Genius RF
Genius RF is a radiofrequency (RF) microneedling device that was originally created for the purpose of stimulating collagen and elastin production, reducing wrinkles, lifting sagging skin, and treating acne scars. But it has one added bonus: it can permanently stop hyperhidrosis. The Genius RF treatment at Supriya Dermatology penetrates into the deepest layers of your skin at a depth of 3 millimeters, heating up and deactivating sweat glands. Genius RF is uniquely effective at what it does because of its real-time feedback. Before each shot, the device analyzes your skin’s texture and thickness, and adjusts how much energy it will deliver to make sure the energy delivered stays consistent and you get the full treatment you should. And yes, the results are permanent.
A Genius RF treatment starts with a local anesthetic such as lidocaine injected into the targeted underarm area. This step causes minimal discomfort, and makes the Genius RF treatment very tolerable and comfortable. The Genius RF treatment for hyperhidrosis lasts anywhere from 30—45 minutes, and most patients get a series of two treatments. You can expect an 85—95% reduction in sweat production in the treated area.
So what are the advantages and disadvantages between the two treatments? A single Genius RF treatment is permanently effective, however, a single Genius RF treatment is more expensive than a single botox treatment. But if you have hyperhidrosis and you’ve been getting botox regularly to keep your symptoms at bay, you’ve probably already paid the same amount that you would have with one Genius RF treatment (if not more). It’s all a matter of patient preference how they decide to budget their hyperhidrosis treatment, but if you asked us, we'd personally recommend getting rid of it with Genius RF and being done with the problem for good.
If you're not sure which hyperhidrosis treatment is best for you, contact us at info@supriyamd.com or call our office at 561-805-9399 to book a consultation with us.