Excessive Sweating Conditions

Excessive sweating is a condition known as hyperhidrosis, (which may be spelled hyperhydrosis).  When there is no other medical problem that is causing excessive perspiration, it is known as primary hyperhidrosis.  Primary hyperhidrosis can lead to excessive sweating of multiple parts of the body, including sweaty palms, sweaty feet, sweaty hands, sweaty armpits, and sweating of the scalp or face.

The treatment of hyperhidrosis depends primarily on whether a patient has primary or secondary hyperhidrosis, and includes medical and surgical treatment for sweaty palms.

There is no known cause for primary hyperhidrosis. The condition begins during childhood, and progressively worsens through adolescence and persists into adulthood. The excessive sweating is embarrassing and affects both social and professional relationships. The characteristics of primary hyperhidrosis include:

• Continuous sweating
• Sweating without an apparent reason
• Sweating not provoked with exercise
• Provoked by emotional stress, hot weather conditions
• Improves during cool months
• Sweating stops during sleep

It is important to remember that excessive sweating can be caused by a number of medical conditions. When sweating is caused by an underlying condition it is called secondary hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweating in additional areas of the body. Examples of medical conditions that can cause excessive sweating include:

• Endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism
• Menopause
• Treatments for cancer
• Obesity
• Psychiatric disorders
• Systemic malignant disease