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For most of us, sweat is annoying. But for some, it's so debilitating that reducing it is life-changing. The most promising and minimally invasive treatment beyond antiperspirant for hyperhidrosis (the clinical name for excessive sweating) has been Botox, but the results typically last only about seven months. Last year the FDA approved MiraDry, a treatment that delivers microwave energy beneath the skin to destroy most sweat glands in the underarm area. In a study that followed 31 people, 90 percent of patients described their sweating as "never noticeable" or "tolerable" after a year. The downsides: Two treatments are required, at a total cost of $2,500 to $3,500; the procedure is painful, so most people get around 30 shots of numbing lidocaine under each arm pretreatment; and right now fewer than 40 doctors in the United States offer MiraDry. The big upside: There's hope for a long-term solution for serious sweat.

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