Long-term efficacy of fractional microneedle radiofrequency versus botulinum toxin-A in primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Lasers in medical science Vol. 39; no. 1; p. 177
• Main Authors: Eid, Reem O., Shaarawi, Eman, Hegazy, Rehab A., Hafez, Vanessa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 10-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Axilla; Botulinum toxin; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - administration & dosage; Dentistry; Effectiveness; Female; Humans; Hyperhidrosis; Hyperhidrosis - drug therapy; Hyperhidrosis - therapy; Iodine; Lasers; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Needles; Optical Devices; Optics; Original; Original Article; Patient Satisfaction; Patients; Pharmacology; Photonics; Quantum Optics; Radio frequency; Radiofrequency Therapy - instrumentation; Radiofrequency Therapy - methods; Sweating; Toxins; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Botulinum toxin A; Randomized controlled trial; Primary axillary hyperhidrosis; Fractional microneedling radiofrequency
• ISSN: 1435-604X; 0268-8921; 1435-604X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10103-024-04115-x

Primary axillary hyperhidrosis is an idiopathic disorder that creates severe psycho-social burden due to excessive uncontrolled sweating. Various therapeutic agents have been described, but each has its own limitations. The use of fractional microneedling radiofrequency has emerged lately with promising results. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of fractional microneedle radiofrequency in comparison to Botulinum toxin-A (BT-A) in patients with primary axillary hyperhidrosis. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 20 patients (40 sides) were randomized to either fractional microneedle radiofrequency (4 sessions at 3-week intervals) or BT-A (single session), where each side received one of the treatment modalities. Efficacy was measured at 3, 6 and 12 months using Minor’s starch iodine test, HDSS score, Hqol questionnaire, and patient satisfaction. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency, although showed moderate efficacy, is inferior to BT-A regarding longitudinal efficacy at 12 months, as well as patients’ satisfaction. Both treatment modalities showed to be equally safe, but fractional microneedle radiofrequency procedure was substantially more painful. In conclusion, fractional microneedle radiofrequency does not offer a better substitute to BT-A in primary axillary hyperhidrosis. BT-A shows higher efficacy, is less painful, less expensive, and needs a smaller number of sessions.