Hyperhidrosis – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Hyperhidrosis is a condition characterized by excessive sweating that occurs even without heat or physical activity. This excessive sweating can be severe enough to soak through clothing or drip from the hands.
People with this condition often experience significant disruption to daily activities and may develop social anxiety due to embarrassment.
Treatment options for hyperhidrosis typically start with antiperspirants. If these prove ineffective, healthcare providers may recommend other medications or therapies.
For severe cases that don’t respond to standard treatments, surgical options might be considered, including removal of sweat glands or cutting the nerves that trigger excessive sweating.
Signs of Excessive Sweating
Heavy sweating is the main sign of hyperhidrosis. This isn’t just normal sweating from heat, exercise, or stress.
People with hyperhidrosis often sweat heavily at least once a week while awake. The sweating typically affects both sides of the body, especially the hands, feet, underarms, or face.
When Medical Help Is Needed
Get emergency medical care if heavy sweating comes with chest pain, dizziness, pain in your throat, jaw, arms or shoulders, cold skin, or a fast pulse. These could signal a serious health problem.
Talk to a healthcare provider if:
- Your sweating interferes with daily activities
- You feel embarrassed or avoid social situations because of sweating
- Your sweating pattern has suddenly changed
- You sweat excessively at night without a clear reason
Excessive sweating can significantly impact quality of life, but treatments are available. Don’t hesitate to discuss these symptoms with your doctor.
Causes
Excessive sweating occurs in two main types.
Primary hyperhidrosis happens when nerve signals incorrectly tell sweat glands to work too hard. This kind typically affects specific areas like:
- Palms of hands
- Soles of feet
- Underarms
- Face (sometimes)
This type has no underlying medical reason, though it may run in families.
Secondary hyperhidrosis stems from other health conditions or medication use. Unlike primary hyperhidrosis, it often causes sweating across the entire body. Several factors can trigger this type:
| Possible Causes | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medical conditions | Diabetes, thyroid disorders, certain cancers |
| Hormonal changes | Menopause hot flashes |
| Medications | Pain relievers, antidepressants, some diabetes and hormone medications |
| Other factors | Nervous system disorders, infections |
In hyperhidrosis, the body normally sweats to cool itself when temperature rises or during nervous situations. However, this natural cooling system works overtime.
Risk Factors
People may face a higher chance of developing hyperhidrosis if they:
- Have a family history of excessive sweating (parent, sibling, or grandparent)
- Take medications or supplements that increase sweating
- Suffer from certain medical conditions that cause increased sweating
Complications
Excessive sweating can lead to several problems:
- Skin infections happen more often in people who sweat heavily.
- Social challenges include embarrassment from wet hands or soaked clothing.
- Career impacts may affect work opportunities and educational goals.
These issues can significantly affect daily life and self-confidence for those with this condition.
