A randomized, blinded clinical evaluation of a novel microwave device for treating axillary hyperhidrosis: the dermatologic reduction in underarm perspiration study.

BACKGROUND: Duration of effect and effectiveness limit current options for treating axillary hyperhidrosis. A new microwave procedure for treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis has been tested. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults with primary axillary hyperhidrosis were enrolled in a randomized, sham-controlled, blinded study. Subjects were required to have a Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS) score of 3 or 4 and baseline sweat production greater than 50 mg/5 min. Procedures were administered using a proprietary microwave energy device that isolates and heats target tissue. Responders were defined as subjects reporting a HDSS score of 1 or 2. Subjects were followed for 6 months (sham group) or 12 months (active group). RESULTS: Thirty days after treatment, the active group had a responder rate of 89% (72/81), and the sham group had a responder rate of 54% (21/39) (P < .001). Treatment efficacy was stable from 3 months (74%) to 12 months (69%), when follow-up ended. Adverse events were generally mild, and all but one resolved over time. CONCLUSIONS: The procedure demonstrated statistically significant, long-term efficacy in sweat reduction. As with any new procedure, findings from this first investigational device study identified optimization strategies for the future.

Treatment of vitiligo with the 308-nm excimer laser: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Present vitiligo therapies require many months of treatment and often result in disappointing outcomes. Common therapeutic options include phototherapy with psoralens plus ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation and broadband or narrowband UVB radiation phototherapy. Some of these modalities require regular phototherapy sessions several times a week for up to a year to achieve a therapeutic response. Targeted phototherapy with single-wavelength laser light is a treatment alternative that may prove to be a time-efficient and effective therapeutic option for the management of vitiligo. METHODS: This intervention study was designed as a before and after trial with a single arm. Twenty-nine patches of vitiligo from 18 patients (6 males and 12 females) were treated at the start of the study. Vitiligo patches were treated by using a 308-nm xenon-chloride excimer laser. Lesions were treated 3 times a week for a maximum of 12 treatments. Treatment was withheld if sunburn was observed and held until resolution. All patients had untreated vitiligo patches that served as control sites. RESULTS: Twenty-three vitiligo patches from 12 patients received at least 6 treatments and resulted in some repigmentation in 57% of the treated patches. Eleven vitiligo patches from 6 patients received all 12 treatments and resulted in some repigmentation in 82% of the treated patches. Untreated control patches remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: This degree of repigmentation in a period of 2 to 4 weeks is much higher than that achieved with any other present vitiligo therapy. The xenon-chloride excimer laser may represent a new treatment modality for the management of stable vitiligo.