skin conditions & beauty center

What Does Excessive Sweating Indicate?

Reviewed on 7/28/2022
Man looking at his shirt in the underarm area, wet from excessive sweating
There are two types of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), which include primary hyperhidrosis (usually inherited and begins in childhood) and secondary hyperhidrosis (caused by some other condition or behavior and begins in adulthood).

Sweating helps the body to cool down and get rid of some of the bodies’ other waste products. Sometimes people sweat a lot when they exercise or it’s hot outside, but others have a condition called hyperhidrosis that causes them to sweat too excessively. 

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) can occur anywhere on the body, but it most often happens on the:

There are two types of excessive sweating: 

  • Primary hyperhidrosis 
    • Usually inherited
    • Begins in childhood and worsens with puberty, especially in women
    • Happens on both sides of the body
    • Usually occurs on one area of the body, or just a few 
    • Starts after waking up, and sheets are usually dry
    • Occurs at least once a week, but usually more often
  • Secondary hyperhidrosis 
    • Caused by some other condition or behavior
    • Starts during adulthood
    • Usually causes the whole body to sweat 
    • Sweating also occurs while sleeping
    • In secondary hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating may indicate:

What Are Symptoms of Excessive Sweating?

Symptoms of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) may include:

  • Excess sweat on the palms, hands, underarms, face and trunk 
  • Visible sweating for no apparent reason
    • Soaked clothing
    • Beading or dripping sweat
  • Extreme flushing on the face
  • Skin may stay wet for long periods, and may peel after turning soft and white
  • Frequent skin infections where sweating occurs
  • Problems using a mouse or keyboard, holding a pen, or turning a doorknob 

How Is Excessive Sweating Diagnosed?

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is diagnosed with a patient history and a physical examination. A patient’s level of sweating can also be measured with tests such as:

  • Starch iodine test
    • This test turns sweat brown and is used identify excessive sweating 
  • Vapometer
    • This is a device that measures water loss through the skin and measures the amount of sweat that the hands, underarms, feet and scalp produce
    • This allows the amount of sweat before and after treatment to be compared

What Is the Treatment for Excessive Sweating?

If excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is bothersome, treatments can help, such as: 

  • Prescription antiperspirants
  • Dietary changes
  • Behavioral medicine
    • Behavioral techniques can help relieve stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions or reactions associated with excessive sweating
  • Iontophoresis
    • Uses electricity to send a weak current through the skin which can help return sweating back to comfortable levels
  • Botox injections
    • Injections of botulinum toxin are made into the areas that cause problems, temporarily blocking nerves that cause a person to sweat
  • Systemic therapies that affect the entire body
    • Anticholinergics cause a drying reaction in the body 
  • Electromagnetic energy
    • Microwave thermolysis of sweat glands directs energy at the sweat glands in the underarm
  • Surgery
    • Reserved for severe cases where no other treatments have worked
    • May involve removal of sweat glands or destroying nerves leading to sweat glands (sympathectomy)

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Reviewed on 7/28/2022
References
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Image source: iStock Images

https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/skin-hair-and-nails/excessive-sweating/causes.html