miraDry was, additionally, FDA-cleared in 2015 to permanently eliminate underarm hair of all colors as well as odor glands (which are just a different kind of sweat gland); making it the first FDA-cleared device available to halt unwanted underarm sweat and hair growth while also eliminating odor-producing glands. (For hair reduction, the device is sometimes called miraSmooth instead of miraDry.) Generally, we'll focus on miraDry's sweat-stopping capabilities. If you want more information on permanent hair-zapping, visit www.mirasmooth.com. One benefit of miraDry/miraSmooth for permanent hair removal is that, unlike laser hair removal, it works no matter what color your skin or hair is.
A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy in 2013 showed that miraDry was effective in treating both axillary (underarm) hyperhidrosis and axillary osmidrosis (foul-smelling sweat). As part of the study, 11 patients in Asia were treated with miraDry and then evaluated 7 months later for improvement of symptoms. At the follow-up, 83.3% of the underarms treated were determined to have experienced a 2 point improvement in the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS). Among those underarms that had exhibited foul odor (osmidrosis), 93.8% showed good to excellent results.
In April 2012, clinical data from the University of British Columbia showed that miraDry was successful in reducing underarm sweat in over 90% of patients. The average sweat reduction was 82%. Patients rated their satisfaction with the treatment at 90%.
Carolyn Jacob, MD wrote the following in an article published in the March 2013 edition of peer-reviewed Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery:
"The treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis can be rewarding using noninvasive microwave technology. Because the microwaves preferentially target the region of skin where the sweat glands reside, leading to localized thermolysis of the sweat glands, patients can now benefit from permanent targeted sweat reduction. The microwave treatment has been shown to be safe and effective in >6000 procedures to date."
