What is Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which the body sweats a lot more than normal (excessively). Sweating is a necessary function for a human body. It is normal to sweat when you are hot, physically active, or anxious.

However, hyperhidrosis is sweating to an excessive degree. Although the condition is not a serious one, it can make you feel embarrassed.

There are two kinds of hyperhidrosis:

• Primary hyperhidrosis. The sweating usually localizes in one part of your body, such as your underarms, or in a few areas, such as your feet, face, underarms, and hands. This is the more common kind of hyperhidrosis.
• Secondary hyperhidrosis. This type usually affects your entire body.

What are the causes?

The cause of this condition depends on the kind of hyperhidrosis that you have.

• Primary hyperhidrosis may be caused by sweat glands that are more active than normal.
• Secondary hyperhidrosis may be caused by an underlying condition or by taking certain medicines, such as antidepressants or diabetes medicines. Possible conditions that may cause secondary hyperhidrosis include:
  • Diabetes.
  • Gout.
  • Anxiety.
  • Obesity.
  • Menopause.
  • Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
  • Tumors.
  • Frostbite.
  • Certain types of cancers.
  • Alcoholism.
  • Injury to your nervous system.
  • Stroke.
  • Parkinson’s disease.

What increases the risk?

You are more likely to develop primary hyperhidrosis if you have a family history of the condition.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Feeling like you are sweating constantly, even while you are not being active.
• Having skin that peels or gets paler or softer in the areas where you sweat the most.
• Being able to see sweat on your skin.

Other symptoms depend on the kind of hyperhidrosis that you have.

• Symptoms of primary hyperhidrosis may include:
  • Sweating in the same location on both sides of your body.
  • Sweating only during the day and not while you are sleeping.
  • Sweating in specific areas, such as your underarms, palms, feet, and face.
• Symptoms of secondary hyperhidrosis may include:
  • Sweating all over your body.
  • Sweating even while you sleep.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed by:

• Medical history.
• Physical exam.

You may also have other tests, including:

• Tests to measure the amount of sweat you produce and to show the areas where you sweat the most. These tests may involve:
  • Using color-changing chemicals to show patterns of sweating on the skin.
  • Weighing paper that has been applied to the skin. This will show the amount of sweat that your body produces.
  • Measuring the amount of water that evaporates from the skin.
  • Using infrared technology to show patterns of sweating on the skin.
• Tests to check for other conditions that may be causing excess sweating. This may include blood, urine, or imaging tests.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on the kind of hyperhidrosis that you have and the areas of your body that are affected. Your health care provider will also treat any underlying conditions.

Treatment may include:

• Medicines, such as: 
  • Antiperspirants. These are medicines that stop sweat.
  • Injectable medicines. These may include small injections of botulinum toxin.
  • Oral medicines. These are taken by mouth to treat underlying conditions and other symptoms.
• A procedure to:
  • Temporarily turn off the sweat glands in your hands and feet (iontophoresis).
  • Remove your sweat glands.
  • Cut or destroy the nerves so that they do not send a signal to the sweat glands (sympathectomy).

Follow these instructions at home:

Lifestyle

• Limit or avoid foods or beverages that may increase your risk of sweating, such as:
  • Spicy food.
  • Caffeine.
  • Alcohol.
  • Foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG).
• If your feet sweat:
  • Wear sandals when possible.
  • Do not wear cotton socks. Wear socks that remove or wick moisture from your feet.
  • Wear leather shoes.
  • Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes for two days in a row.
• Try placing sweat pads under your clothes to prevent underarm sweat from showing.
• Keep a journal of your sweat symptoms and when they occur. This may help you identify things that trigger your sweating.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Use antiperspirants as told by your health care provider.
• Consider joining a hyperhidrosis support group.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have new symptoms.
• Your symptoms get worse.

Summary

• Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which the body sweats a lot more than normal (excessively).
• With primary hyperhidrosis, the sweating usually localizes in one part of your body, such as your underarms, or in a few areas, such as your feet, face, underarms, and hands. It is caused by overactive sweat glands in the affected area.
• With secondary hyperhidrosis, the sweating affects your entire body. This is caused by an underlying condition.
• Treatment for this condition depends on the kind of hyperhidrosis that you have and the parts of your body that are affected.