A systematic review of microwave-based therapy for axillary hyperhidrosis

Objective: To systematically analyse the literature on the use of the microwave-based device for subdermal thermolysis of the axilla and its efficacy for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis. Materials and methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS and Cochrane databases on 2 June 2016. The inclusion criteria including: (1) studies with human subjects, (2) full-text articles published in English, (3) a microwave-based device used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis and (4) trials that precisely evaluated axillary hyperhidrosis. Exclusion criteria were the following: (1) studies that did not fit the inclusion criteria mentioned above and (2) case reports and reviews. Results: We reviewed five clinical trials and 189 patients, all of which were published between 2012 and 2016. There was one randomized controlled trial, one retrospective study and the remainder were prospective studies. Although all of the studies were conducted with a small sample size, the results indicated that microwave-based device treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis had long-term efficacy with mild adverse effects. In addition, most patients were satisfied with the outcomes in these studies. Conclusions: Microwave-based device treatment may be an effective alternative treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis. However, further investigation is necessary to determine its long-term efficacy and safety.