Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon CausesGeneticsWeightCardiovascularFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Hyperhidrosis GuideHow Hyperhidrosis Is Diagnosed
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View All
Table of Contents
Common Causes
Genetics
Weight
Cardiovascular
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Hyperhidrosis Guide
Sweating is the body’s natural way of cooling off. The normal physiological process of sweating involves the nervous system, which triggers the sweat glands when the body temperature rises. Sweating can also result from nervousness or anxiety, in which case it most commonly occurs on the palms of the hands and in thearmpits.
Excessive sweating due tohyperhidrosiscan arise as a stand-alone condition or be related to a secondary medical condition, such as thyroid disease, cardiovascular conditions, ormenopause.
Read on to learn about causes of hyperhidrosis.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Hyperhidrosis is classified as either primary focal hyperhidrosis or secondary generalized hyperhidrosis, both of which have numerous individual possible causes.
Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis
Primary focal hyperhidrosis involves sweating in one or more “focal” areas of the body, usually on the palms of the hands, under the arms, or the soles of the feet.Focal hyperhidrosis may also affect the face and/or scalp.
There are several causes of primary focal hyperhidrosis, including:
Secondary Generalized Hyperhidrosis
Endocrine
Neurological
Malignancy
Cardiovascular-Related
Side Effects of Medications
Other Factors
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
In primary focal hyperhidrosis, sweating usually starts during childhood, which suggests it may begenetic. A 2019 review of 20 published studies found a wide range of positive family history—from 5.7% to 65%.
What Are the Hyperhidrosis Treatment Options?
A 2019 study published in theJournal of the American Academy of Dermatologyassessed the link betweenbody mass index (BMI)and hyperhidrosis. The study included nearly 2.8 million teenagers. It found higher rates of hyperhidrosis in individuals with obesity than in those who were underweight. In addition, the study authors noted the risk of hyperhidrosis increased for each BMI unit above the normal weight threshold.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure. It does not take into account factors such asbody composition,ethnicity, sex, race, and age. Even though it is a biased measure, BMI is still widely used in the medical community because it’s an inexpensive and quick way to analyze a person’s potential health status and outcomes.
Several factors related to normal cardiovascular function overlap with hyperhidrosis. The same mechanism that triggers sweating in hyperhidrosis causes an increase in heart rate andblood pressure.
Thesympathetic nervous system, which activates the fight-or-flight response, plays a role in hyperhidrosis. The fight-or-flight response causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which leads to excessive sweating.
People with focal hyperhidrosis may have abnormal heart rate patterns, according to a study published in the journalEuropean Neurologythat compared 63 people with focal hyperhidrosis to a group of healthy control subjects.
In addition, a 2016 study assessed post-exercise blood pressure and recovery heart rate in people with hyperhidrosis and those without and found people with secondary generalized hyperhidrosis of unknown origin had a significantly impaired blood pressure recovery and decreased heart rate recovery after exercise.
A Word From Verywell
There are many factors involved in the cause of the different forms of hyperhidrosis, however, perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that the condition is treatable. You can exploreresourcesthat provide education and support to those who have hyperhidrosis. While hyperhidrosis can be an embarrassing condition, it doesn’t have to be one that takes over a person’s life.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo, there isn’t a permanent cure for primary, or focal, hyperhidrosis, though some people find the condition goes into remission in early adulthood. Secondary hyperhidrosis may abate if the underlying cause of the condition can be addressed. For example, excessive sweating due to obesity may lessen when extra pounds are lost.According to a 2016 survey published in theArchives of Dermatological Research, 4.8% of the U.S. population—around 15.3 million people—has primary hyperhidrosis, most between ages 18 and 39.This statistic may not be entirely accurate, as other research has found people often are reluctant to report excessive sweating and many are neverdiagnosed.A key difference between the two types is the location of excess sweating. Primary hyperhidrosis typically affects thesoles of the feet, thepalmsof the hands, the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis), or the face and scalp. People with secondary hyperhidrosis sweat all over. For instance, thenight sweatscommon during menopause are considered secondary hyperhidrosis.
No, there isn’t a permanent cure for primary, or focal, hyperhidrosis, though some people find the condition goes into remission in early adulthood. Secondary hyperhidrosis may abate if the underlying cause of the condition can be addressed. For example, excessive sweating due to obesity may lessen when extra pounds are lost.
According to a 2016 survey published in theArchives of Dermatological Research, 4.8% of the U.S. population—around 15.3 million people—has primary hyperhidrosis, most between ages 18 and 39.This statistic may not be entirely accurate, as other research has found people often are reluctant to report excessive sweating and many are neverdiagnosed.
A key difference between the two types is the location of excess sweating. Primary hyperhidrosis typically affects thesoles of the feet, thepalmsof the hands, the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis), or the face and scalp. People with secondary hyperhidrosis sweat all over. For instance, thenight sweatscommon during menopause are considered secondary hyperhidrosis.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kargi AB.Plantar sweating as an indicator of lower risk of compensatory sweating after fhoracic sympathectomy.Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.2017;65(6):479-483. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579680Ohshima Y, Tamada Y.Classification of systemic and localized sweating disorders.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2016;51:7-10. doi: 10.1159/000446753McConaghy JR, Fosselman D.Hyperhidrosis: Management Options.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(11):729-734.McConaghy JR, Fosselmann D.Hyperhidrosis: Management options.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jun 1;97(11):729-734.Henning MA, Pedersen OB, Jemec GB.Genetic disposition to primary hyperhidrosis: a review of literature.Arch Dermatol Res. 2019;311(10):735-740. doi:10.1007/s00403-019-01966-1Lottenberg AMP, Jensen NSO.Hyperhidrosis and Obesity. In: Loureiro M., Campos J, Wolosker N, Kauffman P (eds). I. 2018. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-89527-7_3Astman N, Friedberg I, Wikstrom JD, et al.The association between obesity and hyperhidrosis: A nationwide, cross-sectional study of 2.77 million Israeli adolescents.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(2):624-627. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.019Birner P, Heinzl H, Schindl M, Pumprla J, Schnider P.Cardiac autonomic function in patients suffering from primary focal hyperhidrosis.Eur Neurol. 2000;44(2):112-6. doi:10.1159/000008207Alihanoglu YI, Yildiz BS, Kilic ID, et al.A new method for evaluation of the autonomic nervous system in patients with idiopathic hyperhidrosis: systolic blood pressure and heart rate recovery after graded exercise.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016;41(8):847-851. doi:10.1111/ced.12915Doolittle J, Walker P, Mills T, et al.Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States.Arch Dermatol Res. 2016;308(10):743-749. doi:10.1007/s00403-016-1697-9
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kargi AB.Plantar sweating as an indicator of lower risk of compensatory sweating after fhoracic sympathectomy.Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.2017;65(6):479-483. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579680Ohshima Y, Tamada Y.Classification of systemic and localized sweating disorders.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2016;51:7-10. doi: 10.1159/000446753McConaghy JR, Fosselman D.Hyperhidrosis: Management Options.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(11):729-734.McConaghy JR, Fosselmann D.Hyperhidrosis: Management options.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jun 1;97(11):729-734.Henning MA, Pedersen OB, Jemec GB.Genetic disposition to primary hyperhidrosis: a review of literature.Arch Dermatol Res. 2019;311(10):735-740. doi:10.1007/s00403-019-01966-1Lottenberg AMP, Jensen NSO.Hyperhidrosis and Obesity. In: Loureiro M., Campos J, Wolosker N, Kauffman P (eds). I. 2018. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-89527-7_3Astman N, Friedberg I, Wikstrom JD, et al.The association between obesity and hyperhidrosis: A nationwide, cross-sectional study of 2.77 million Israeli adolescents.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(2):624-627. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.019Birner P, Heinzl H, Schindl M, Pumprla J, Schnider P.Cardiac autonomic function in patients suffering from primary focal hyperhidrosis.Eur Neurol. 2000;44(2):112-6. doi:10.1159/000008207Alihanoglu YI, Yildiz BS, Kilic ID, et al.A new method for evaluation of the autonomic nervous system in patients with idiopathic hyperhidrosis: systolic blood pressure and heart rate recovery after graded exercise.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016;41(8):847-851. doi:10.1111/ced.12915Doolittle J, Walker P, Mills T, et al.Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States.Arch Dermatol Res. 2016;308(10):743-749. doi:10.1007/s00403-016-1697-9
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kargi AB.Plantar sweating as an indicator of lower risk of compensatory sweating after fhoracic sympathectomy.Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.2017;65(6):479-483. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579680Ohshima Y, Tamada Y.Classification of systemic and localized sweating disorders.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2016;51:7-10. doi: 10.1159/000446753McConaghy JR, Fosselman D.Hyperhidrosis: Management Options.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(11):729-734.McConaghy JR, Fosselmann D.Hyperhidrosis: Management options.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jun 1;97(11):729-734.Henning MA, Pedersen OB, Jemec GB.Genetic disposition to primary hyperhidrosis: a review of literature.Arch Dermatol Res. 2019;311(10):735-740. doi:10.1007/s00403-019-01966-1Lottenberg AMP, Jensen NSO.Hyperhidrosis and Obesity. In: Loureiro M., Campos J, Wolosker N, Kauffman P (eds). I. 2018. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-89527-7_3Astman N, Friedberg I, Wikstrom JD, et al.The association between obesity and hyperhidrosis: A nationwide, cross-sectional study of 2.77 million Israeli adolescents.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(2):624-627. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.019Birner P, Heinzl H, Schindl M, Pumprla J, Schnider P.Cardiac autonomic function in patients suffering from primary focal hyperhidrosis.Eur Neurol. 2000;44(2):112-6. doi:10.1159/000008207Alihanoglu YI, Yildiz BS, Kilic ID, et al.A new method for evaluation of the autonomic nervous system in patients with idiopathic hyperhidrosis: systolic blood pressure and heart rate recovery after graded exercise.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016;41(8):847-851. doi:10.1111/ced.12915Doolittle J, Walker P, Mills T, et al.Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States.Arch Dermatol Res. 2016;308(10):743-749. doi:10.1007/s00403-016-1697-9
Kargi AB.Plantar sweating as an indicator of lower risk of compensatory sweating after fhoracic sympathectomy.Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.2017;65(6):479-483. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1579680
Ohshima Y, Tamada Y.Classification of systemic and localized sweating disorders.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2016;51:7-10. doi: 10.1159/000446753
McConaghy JR, Fosselman D.Hyperhidrosis: Management Options.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(11):729-734.
McConaghy JR, Fosselmann D.Hyperhidrosis: Management options.Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jun 1;97(11):729-734.
Henning MA, Pedersen OB, Jemec GB.Genetic disposition to primary hyperhidrosis: a review of literature.Arch Dermatol Res. 2019;311(10):735-740. doi:10.1007/s00403-019-01966-1
Lottenberg AMP, Jensen NSO.Hyperhidrosis and Obesity. In: Loureiro M., Campos J, Wolosker N, Kauffman P (eds). I. 2018. Springer, Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-89527-7_3
Astman N, Friedberg I, Wikstrom JD, et al.The association between obesity and hyperhidrosis: A nationwide, cross-sectional study of 2.77 million Israeli adolescents.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(2):624-627. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.019
Birner P, Heinzl H, Schindl M, Pumprla J, Schnider P.Cardiac autonomic function in patients suffering from primary focal hyperhidrosis.Eur Neurol. 2000;44(2):112-6. doi:10.1159/000008207
Alihanoglu YI, Yildiz BS, Kilic ID, et al.A new method for evaluation of the autonomic nervous system in patients with idiopathic hyperhidrosis: systolic blood pressure and heart rate recovery after graded exercise.Clin Exp Dermatol. 2016;41(8):847-851. doi:10.1111/ced.12915
Doolittle J, Walker P, Mills T, et al.Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States.Arch Dermatol Res. 2016;308(10):743-749. doi:10.1007/s00403-016-1697-9
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