Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Son, 35 years old, was always self-conscious due to bad armpit sweat odor. The doctor used microwave energy to destroy the sweat glands to help eliminate the odor.
Mr. Son sweated a lot since childhood, and it got worse during puberty, with an unpleasant odor, especially in the armpit area. He cleaned his body carefully and tried many deodorants, but to no avail. He said that his friends had advised him to be self-conscious, limit contact with people, and avoid parties. He was advised to undergo sympathectomy surgery to treat underarm sweating, but he refused because he was afraid of "going under the knife".
On November 24, Master, Doctor, Doctor Tran Nguyen Anh Thu, Dermatology - Cosmetic Dermatology specialist, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the patient had severe hyperhidrosis. The eccrine sweat glands were overactive, so they sweated even in cold weather and when not exercising. The apocrine sweat glands also secreted many odor-causing precursors such as proteins, fats, and cholesterol. Initially, these substances were odorless and sterile, but when the bacteria on the skin decomposed, they caused an unpleasant odor. The more sweat was secreted, the more food for bacteria increased, making the odor stronger. To get rid of the odor, these two glands had to be deactivated.
Dr. Thu advised Mr. Son to use microwave technology to treat excessive sweating and odor in the armpit area.
He was re-tested for his sweating level by applying a thin layer of iodine and starch to the skin under his arms, and performing a bicycle movement on the bed for about 10 minutes. After that, the patient's armpits were disinfected and anesthetic was injected. The doctor marked the treatment area and 20 sweat gland locations with a specialized tool.
Doctor Anh Thu monitors the sweating process while Mr. Son performs the stationary cycling movement. Photo: Thu Anh
The vacuum head is placed precisely on each positioning point, emitting concentrated microwave energy to destroy the sweat glands deep under the skin. The sweat glands are permanently pyrolyzed, unable to recover. Meanwhile, the machine has a simultaneous cooling mechanism, protecting the tissues surrounding the sweat glands and the skin surface from heat damage.
While the doctor operates on one hand, the patient can still use the other hand to hold a book, phone or chat. Mr. Son said the feeling of heat and pain at the location where the machine is placed is insignificant.
After about three hours, the treatment is complete. After treatment, the patient may experience swelling, pain, mild bruising in the armpit area for a few days or, more rarely, numbness in the hand. He was instructed to apply cold compresses for the first 1-2 days and could use painkillers.
Doctors recommend that patients use mild shower gel, do not use deodorant to avoid clogging pores causing inflammation, and limit strenuous exercise during the first week to help the armpit heal quickly.
Treating hyperhidrosis with microwave technology at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Thu Anh
Dr. Thu said the advantage of the microwave treatment for hyperhidrosis is that it is minimally invasive, effective immediately, and has almost permanent effects after 1-2 treatments. This technology also helps lighten the skin color under the arms, reducing the amount of hair in this area.
The doctor noted that the patient only reduced the amount of sweat in the armpits by about 80-90%, because the body still has to sweat to regulate temperature. The cost of a microwave treatment is higher than other methods such as botox injections and lasers. This method is considered safe, patients should go to reputable medical facilities with a Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics specialist to avoid complications.
Thu Anh
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