Radiofrequency Thermotherapy for Treating Axillary Hyperhidrosis.
BACKGROUND
Thermotherapy has been established between conservative and surgical options as a minimally invasive method for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to present radiofrequency thermotherapy (RFTT) as a safe and effective new treatment method.


METHODS
Thirty adult patients with pronounced axillary hyperhidrosis were treated with RFTT with noninsulated microneedles 3 times at intervals of 6 weeks. Subjective improvement was rated using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Satisfaction and estimated reduction of sweating were monitored. Objective measurements were made using gravimetry. Adverse effects were recorded in follow-up. At the 6-month follow-up, improvement in sweating was seen in 27 patients. The HDSS dropped from 3.4 to 2.1, the DLQI improved significantly from 16 to 7. The gravimetric measurements of sweat were reduced from 221 to 33 mg/min. The average reduction of sweating was reported to be 72%. Adverse effects were generally mild and improved rapidly.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiofrequency thermotherapy was shown to be an effective and minimally invasive treatment option for axillary hyperhidrosis. Patients described their sweating as normal. The method clearly has the potential to normalize axillary sweating.
*German Hyperhidrosis Center, Munich, Germany; †Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; ‡Department of Vascular Surgery, Center of Vascular Medicine Munich South, Munich, Germany; §Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Faculty of Medicine (Retired), Haifa, Israel.
Christoph H
CH
Schick
Tanja
T
Grallath
Kerstin S
KS
Schick
Moshe
M
Hashmonai
D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011846:Radio Waves; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome