Candesant Biomedical & Brella SweatControl Patch
Primary axillary hyperhidrosis, a condition known colloquially as excessive underarm sweating, is characterized by overactive sweat glands and sweat production unrelated to high activity, heat, or high-stress situations. Sweating is a normal function of the body, helping to secrete toxins and regulating temperature to keep the body cool, however, patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis experience sweat production beyond these normal functions. Excessive underarm sweating can create feelings of embarrassment and shame, ruin clothing, and keep patients from the highest quality of life. Luckily, there are various treatment options available at Dr. Michele Green’s office in NYC that can help reduce excessive sweating and improve the quality of life for those who struggle with it.
A reported 15.3 million Americans, approximately 4.8% of the population, have been diagnosed with hyperhidrosis; of those, two-thirds experience excessive sweating in the underarm region. However, due to the embarrassment associated with the condition, the International Hyperhidrosis Society believes that these numbers underestimate the true number of Americans who suffer from hyperhidrosis and that one in three Americans experience excessive sweating. The current treatments for hyperhidrosis, including Botox injections, are available at Dr. Michele Green’s private dermatology office in New York City. But soon to become available to healthcare providers around the country is a new solution created by Candesant Biomedical: the Brella SweatControl Patch.
Announced in mid-March of 2023, the Brella 3-minute SweatControl patch is a revolutionary axillary hyperhidrosis treatment option. The newly FDA-cleared medical device is a single-use disposable patch that can be placed on the patient’s underarm region to suppress sweat production in the treatment area. Using Candesant Biomedical’s targeted alkali thermolysis, this non-invasive treatment causes controlled, targeted destruction of the sweat glands for long-lasting relief from excessive sweating. Results from the SAHARA pilot study of the effectiveness of the treatment were revealed at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, demonstrating that the Candesant Brella sodium sheet is a safe and effective treatment option for primary axillary hyperhidrosis that requires no downtime and no significant adverse events. With the FDA clearance of Brella, the innovative treatment will become available to select U.S. markets in late summer.
One healthcare provider who is always up-to-date on the newest and trending treatment options is expert, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. Dr. Green has been treating patients in her Upper East Side New York City dermatology office for over 25 years. Highly experienced in treating a wide range of cosmetic and medical concerns, Dr. Green offers procedures such as Botox, dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, microneedling, and much more. Well-known for high patient satisfaction, Dr. Green has been frequently voted one of the best healthcare providers in New York City by such publications as Castle Connolly, Super Doctors, and New York Magazine.
What is axillary hyperhidrosis?
Primary axillary hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive sweating in the underarm region that occurs outside of intense activity, heat, or stress. It is normal and important for sweat to be produced during exercise, heat, or moments of anxiety, as sweat glands produce water and minerals to expel toxins and regulate body temperature. However, hyperhidrosis occurs when patients experience excessive sweating outside of these circumstances, leading to embarrassment, feelings of self-consciousness, ruined clothing, and decreased quality of life. Hyperhidrosis can also be associated with other symptoms, such as body odor, skin irritation, and an increased risk of skin infection. While 15.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with this condition, it is estimated that nearly 85.2 million experience excessive underarm sweating but are uncomfortable discussing their condition with their healthcare provider. Additionally, according to results published by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 58% of patients seeking cosmetic procedures are most bothered by their axillary hyperhidrosis. With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearing of Brella, excessive sweating treatment can become a quick and simple option for patients.
What is Brella SweatControl Patch?
With the FDA approval of the Brella SweatControl patch, there is a new, innovative solution for excessive underarm sweating. Brella is a single-use disposable patch that can be placed on the underarm region, and after only three minutes, the sweat production in the treatment area will be reduced for up to four months. The Brella sodium sheet reacts with the water in the sweat produced under the arm, producing thermal energy that carefully inactivates the sweat glands. Candesant’s Brella uses the company’s patented targeted alkali thermolysis (TAT) technology to great effect and, in a report given at the annual meeting for the American Academy of Dermatology and published in PR Newswire, the treatment was shown to produce statistically significant results in a double-blind study with no adverse events. This quick, safe, and effective treatment could change how excessive underarm sweating is treated, making a solution more accessible to patients.
What is Candesant Biomedical?
Candesant Biomedical is a MedTech innovator company based out of San Francisco dedicated to producing new medical devices to safely and effectively treat hyperhidrosis. Run by founder and CEO Niquette Hunt with eight board members, Candesant Biomedical provides non-invasive treatment options and innovative technology for the medical and dermatological fields. Their newly FDA-cleared Brella SweatControl patch will be available to select medical providers in late summer.
What is Brella used for?
Candesant’s Brella SweatControl Patch treats excessive sweating in the underarm region of the body. Excessive underarm sweating, known medically as primary axillary hyperhidrosis, is a condition in which overactive sweat glands produce sweat often and uncontrollably, making it very difficult to treat. Brella is the first medical device to employ Candesant Biomedical’s patented alkali thermolysis technology to disable the sweat glands in the patient’s underarm to reduce excessive sweating for up to four months.
How does Brella work?
The Brella SweatControl patch is made up of an alkali metal with an adhesive backing that sticks to the patient’s underarm where excessive sweating occurs. The sodium sheet works via the patented process called targeted alkali thermolysis, which is the principle that when the alkali metal mixes with the water in the sweat, it will result in a thermal energy reaction. The patch is placed on the treatment area for three minutes, and in that time, the sodium on the sheet mixes with the sweat, which is 99% water, and produces a small amount of heat energy. This heat energy localized to the treatment site causes controlled destruction to the sweat glands in the area, which causes the glands to create less sweat. The effects of the treatment last for three to four months and can be repeated when they begin to wear off.
What is the procedure for Brella SweatControl Patch?
Candesant’s Brella is a quick and simple procedure that produces excellent effects for up to four months post-treatment. The treatment must be performed by a trained healthcare provider, such as Dr. Green, and will take place in her office. Healthcare providers will begin by cleaning and drying the treatment area under the arms to apply the adhesive properly. Then, the Brella patch is placed on the skin and left for three minutes, after which your healthcare provider carefully removes the patch. The area is cleansed, and then the procedure is complete and requires no downtime afterward, meaning patients can immediately return to their regularly scheduled activities. Patients should begin to experience the results within one week of receiving the treatment.
Is the procedure permanent?
Brella is a long-lasting but temporary procedure to reduce excessive underarm sweat. It takes approximately one week following the treatment for the results to take effect. Still, after one week, patients can experience up to a 50% reduction in sweat production for up to four months, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. When the effects of the treatment begin to fade, patients can return to their healthcare provider to have the procedure repeated to maintain the results.
Does Brella have any side effects?
According to the double-blind SAHARA study in the journal of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, no significant adverse events or side effects were associated with the Brella treatment. Some patients experienced mild to moderate side effects that resolved themselves quickly after receiving the treatment. There is no downtime or recovery time associated with the procedure.
How effective is the Candesant Biomedical SweatControl Patch?
Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can clear any medical device, sufficient studies must be done to determine that the device or treatment is safe for patients and effective for its intended use. Brella was FDA-cleared after findings from a double-blind, sham-protected SAHARA study in which 110 patients with severe underarm sweating participated, receiving either the Brella treatment or a sham treatment. The participants were surveyed for 12 weeks to determine the effectiveness and safety of the treatment for severe axillary hyperhidrosis. When the findings were presented, the research showed that the Brella SweatControl patch had a significant effect on the production of sweat, with 64% of patients who received the Brella treatment seeing a reduction in sweat production. 60% of the patients who received the Brella sodium sheet saw a 50% reduction in the amount of sweat produced compared to only 33% of those patients who received the placebo. When asked about how their quality of life had changed after treatment, patients who received the Brella patch reported a significant improvement.
When will Brella be available for patients?
Brella SweatControl Patch, created with the patented targeted alkali thermolysis technology by Candesant Biomedical, has recently been FDA-cleared to treat excessive underarm sweating. The treatment will be made available to certain healthcare providers by late summer. As soon as the treatment is available, board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Michele Green, will have these Brella SweatControl patches available for her NYC dermatology patients. With the 3-minute SweatControl Patch, patients can see up to a 50% reduction in sweat production for up to 4 months. These patches should help significantly reduce hyperhidrosis and can be combined with other treatment modalities.
Dr. Michele Green is an internationally renowned board-certified dermatologist with over 25 years of experience providing her patients with the best non-invasive treatment options, including for hyperhidrosis. Castle Connolly, Super Doctors, and New York Magazine consistently identify Dr. Green as one of NYC’s best dermatologists for her dedication to her patients and expertise. When you consult with Dr. Green, she will work with you to create a completely customized treatment plan that incorporates a combination of the in-office procedures and specially formulated skincare products best suited to your specific needs and goals. To find out more about Candesant Biomedical’s new product, visit candesant.com. To learn more about treating hyperhidrosis, Brella, and other cosmetic non-invasive procedures, call 212 535 3088 or contact us online to book an appointment today.