WHAT IS HYPERHIDROSIS?
Hyperhidrosis definition
Sweat is an odourless, clear fluid produced by the body’s sweat glands that regulates body temperature.1
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating. Excessive sweating happens when a person sweats more than is necessary.
Yes, it’s necessary to sweat. Sweating cools the body, which prevents us from overheating. People who have hyperhidrosis. However, people who have hyperhydrosis, sweat when the body doesn't need cooling.
Many people who have hyperhidrosis sweat from one or two areas of the body. Most often, they sweat from their palms, feet, underarms, or head. While the rest of the body remains dry, one or two areas may drip with sweat.
This excessive sweating can interfere with everyday activities. Hands can be so sweaty that it becomes difficult to turn a doorknob or use a computer. Sweat from the underarms often soaks through clothes, causing obvious sweat marks. Because the skin is often wet, certain skin infections can develop.2
You are not alone, almost 3% of the general population, largely people aged between 25 and 64 years, experience hyperhidrosis. Affecting both men and women equally.1
Primary hyperhidrosis affects one or more body areas, and the most commonly reported body area where hyperhidrosis occurs is the underarms, as reported in a survey of hyperhidrosis patients in the United States.3
(axillary)
(craniofacial)
(palmar)
(plantar)
breasts2
(axillary)
(craniofacial)
(palmar)
(plantar)
breasts2
PRIMARY HYPERHIDROSIS VS SECONDARY HYPERHIDROSIS
WHAT IS
PRIMARY
FOCAL
HYPERHIDROSIS? 4
This type of hyperhidrosis usually begins when the person is a child or adolescent. Most people who have this type are otherwise healthy.
In medical terminology, the word “primary” means that the cause is not another medical condition. If you have this type of hyperhidrosis, you may sweat:
A FEW AREAS
OF THE BODY
SIDES OF
THE BODY
WAKING
UP
ONCE
A WEEK
WHAT IS
SECONDARY
HYPERHIDROSIS? 4
In medical terminology, “secondary” means that the excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) has an underlying cause.
The cause could be a:
- Medical condition
- Side effect of taking a medicine or food supplement.
CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE SWEATING INCLUDE:
Diabetes
Frostbite
Gout
Injury
(such as head traumacaused by an accident)
Menopause
Obesity
Overactive thyroid
(hyperthyroidism)Some types of Tumours
If a person has this type of hyperhidrosis, the person may notice:
- The entire body sweats excessively:
Sometimes, only parts of the body sweat. - Sweating occurs during sleeping:
If you sweat excessively while asleep, it is important to see a dermatologist to learn why this happens.
This type of sweating usually begins when the person is an adult. It also may begin after an accident or frostbite. Many medicines also can cause this type of hyperhidrosis.
- Focal hyperhidrosis: diagnosis and management, Aamir Haider CMAJ 2005;172(1):69-78
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/hyperhidrosis-overview LAST ACCESSED (Apr-23) from Bellet J. “Hyperhidrosis and hypertrichosis in children and adolescents.” Focus session presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology: Miami. Mar 2013.
- Doolittle J et al. Arch Dermatol Res 2016;308:743−749.
- https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/hyperhidrosis-symptoms LAST ACCESSED (Apr-23) from Bellet J. “Hyperhidrosis and hypertrichosis in children and adolescents.” Focus session presented at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology: Miami. Mar 2013.
