miraDry

How it works

A handpiece pulls underarm skin gently against a treatment window and emits microwave energy that heats the layer where eccrine and apocrine glands sit, while a cooling system protects the skin surface. Heat damages the glands, which the body does not regenerate quickly, so sweating in the area typically falls rather than being switched off completely. Hair follicles can also be affected, so some people see less underarm hair. Results are described as long lasting, but the degree varies and some sweating usually remains.

Who it may suit

• Underarm sweating that interferes with daily life
• Underarm odor linked to apocrine glands
• People who prefer a procedure over repeated injections
• Those who have not found enough relief from antiperspirants

The treatment day

1. Mapping the area. The treatment zone is outlined and the underarm is numbed with local anesthesia injections.
2. Suction positioning. The handpiece is placed and skin is drawn up against it to bring glands within range of the energy.
3. Energy delivery. Cooled microwave pulses are delivered across the mapped area, often in two passes.
4. Cooling and instructions. Ice packs are applied and aftercare guidance is given. A second visit is sometimes planned.

Aftercare

• Use cold packs in short sessions during the first days
• Expect swelling and tenderness and avoid heavy arm exercise for a short period
• Take only the pain relief the doctor approves
• Wear loose clothing and avoid shaving until the area settles
• Report fever, spreading redness or worsening pain

Things to know first

• Swelling, soreness, bruising and temporary numbness or tingling in the arm or underarm are common and may last weeks
• Rare effects include nerve irritation, skin burns, blisters or a change in skin sensation
• Not intended for people with pacemakers or implanted devices without medical clearance, or those with active infection in the area
• Pregnancy and nursing are generally reasons to wait
• Results differ; some sweating or odor can persist, and some people need a second session

How miraDry compares with nearby options

The most common alternative on this map is botulinum toxin injected into the underarm. Toxin blocks the nerve signal to sweat glands and is reversible, with effects that fade over months and need repeating. miraDry is a more involved single procedure meant to reduce the glands themselves, with longer lasting but less precisely predictable results.

Topical prescription antiperspirants and oral medicines come before both in many doctors' reasoning, because they carry no procedural risk. The procedure is more often discussed after those have fallen short.

It is not for sweating of the palms, soles or face, and it does not address generalized or sudden-onset sweating, which should be medically evaluated for underlying causes.