Dont Sweat It: Treating Hyperhidrosis with Microwaves

When considering the medical applications of microwave technology, ablating sweat glands is probably not what initially comes to mind. However, hyperhidrosis (the medical term for excessive sweating) is a condition estimated to affect up to 3% of the population [1]. There is also evidence that an additional 17% of the population have symptoms that are similar to those diagnosed with the condition [2]. Imagine a scenario where someone is inactive, sitting at his or her desk in a cool, dry environment, yet is sweating from the hands, feet, or underarms as if exercising. This is the type of situation a hyperhidrosis sufferer might face on a daily basis. Beyond physical irritation, there is significant evidence that the condition can result in occupational, emotional, psychological, social, and physical impairment leading to increased amounts of depression and other negative effects [1]. The treatment of sweat is also common in the general population in addition to severe sufferers, as evident from the large amounts of money spent on deodorants and antiperspirants (e.g., US$2.9 billion in the United States in 2012) [3]. In this article, an overview of the current treatment options for axillary (underarm) hyperhidrosis, potential energy-based approaches, and the microwave technique developed for treating this potentially debilitating condition is presented. The challenges of commercializing such a medical microwave device are also discussed.