MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1256627
My hands and feet have been excessively sweating for as long as I can remember. It's been challenging to navigate especially as I got older. I had to learn how to manage damp socks and clammy hands in social settings— sleepovers and job interviews were the most challenging. I've dreaded meeting new people just because of the traditional nice-to-meet-you handshake, and in the summer I've required special, not very fashionable, sandals so my feet don't slide everywhere. After I was diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, I tried medication to reduce sweating, contemplated Botox, and looked into a more permanent solution like a surgery. In the end I landed with trying an iontophoresis machine as the best solution to my problem—at least for now. In order to get the machine, I did need a prescription from a doctor, which can be done over SkyMD. It's been roughly 10 weeks since I have been using Dermadry and so far, the results have been positive, however, the journey has not been an easy one. The secret is consistency, the machine is rather easy to use— there is not much to it. In the box comes a case, two electrodes, two towels, a controller and cables. There is also an option to treat the armpits, that bundle comes with additional armpit electrodes, and underarm pockets. Simply connect one end of the cables to the controller, and the other to the electrodes. Then dampen your towels and get started. The controller is very intuitive. First pick the area you would like to treat, then set the desired mA , and then hold down the power button. The higher the mA , the more painful the treatment will get. I star ted with setting it at 7mA's and then week after week moved it up. Easy enough! Unfortunately, this didn't always work for me in this way, due to high skin resistance. While the treatments for the hands only took 20 minutes, of ten it would take 10 minutes for the machine to identify that my hands were there. I tried adding more water to the towels, pouring water out, trying different brands of water, trying warm water, cold water— ever y time it seemed something else solved the issue. In the end, it was skin resistance. I had two other people tr y the machine, and it worked immediately for them, however, as soon as my hands touched the towels the controller would should shut of f. Dermadry is aware of skin resistance being an issue and is doing their best to address that. I was in the minority group that encountered this issue, and while challenging, I was still able to make it work and do my sessions everyday—just took a little patience. Overall, the machine is worth the investment. It might seem like it's a lot of money for such a simple machine, but it's doing so much more behind the scenes. What's great about Dermadry is that the controller regulates the voltage for you. It's a smart machine. I had some experiences when I set the controller to 12mA, however, based on my skin, it would detect that it was safe to only go as high 7mA— as long as the machine is reaching 48v it's working properly. For faster results Dermadry does recommend using higher setting, but you also don't want to be in pain. I describe the feeling of the voltage in my hands as little ants pinching. It was never painful for me, and if it felt uncomfortable, I quickly reduced the mA. Results also depend on how severe the condition is. Mine was high, so even after 10 weeks I'm still not completely dry, but the sweating has reduced by 50 percent. Once the sweating is completely gone Dermadry estimates 6 weeks of staying dry without any treatment needed—so it won't last forever, but then again, the only permanent solution is surgery. Dermadry is ideal for those who suffer from hyperhidrosis and are looking to improve their quality of life. In the end, I'm a fan of the machine. It's already made me more confident, I can use my smartphone, and play the piano better. There are no risks, like with a surgery, no permanent side effects like with medication— I would get headaches all the time—and it's only a one-time payment, unlike Botox. So, give it a try start a new chapter in your life, like I did. For more information, visit: www.dermadry.com