Hyperhidrosis: Signs and symptoms

It’s common to sweat so heavily that you see beads of perspiration on your skin or wet areas on your clothing. Most people sweat from one or two areas, usually their underarms, hands, feet, head, or face. This is a sign of primary hyperhidrosis.

While less common, some people sweat from most of their body. This develops in people who have secondary hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating can happen even when it’s cool and you’re sitting at rest.

The excessive sweating makes many people feel uncomfortable shaking hands or raising an arm. You may feel uncomfortable giving a presentation or sitting next to others. If your hands sweat heavily, you may find it difficult to write legibly, use a computer, or turn a doorknob.

You may find that you sweat excessively when something triggers it. Triggers vary from person to person, and you may have more than one. Common triggers include hot weather, high humidity, feeling anxious or nervous, physical activity, and caffeine.

Although you tend to sweat excessively while at school or work, most people wake up dry. If you have secondary hyperhidrosis, which develops when you take certain medication or have another medical condition, you may sweat in your sleep.

Most people develop hyperhidrosis when they are a child or teenager. Although excess sweating can be lifelong, sweating tends to lessen with age.

If the area(s) from which you sweat is frequently wet, you can develop an unpleasant body odor. This odor occurs when sweat mixes with bacteria and yeasts on your skin. Treatment can help control sweating and body odor.

Skin that’s often wet can become macerated. This makes the skin wrinkly. The often-wet skin can feel soft and spongy. You may see swelling or peeling in the area.

Frequently wet skin can rub and chafe. Some people develop frequent skin infections where they sweat excessively. Signs of a skin infection include pus or fluid leaking from the area, discoloration, swelling, and pain.

Sweating excessively can affect many areas of everyday life. It may be difficult to grip the handlebars of a bicycle, control a computer mouse, and use a video game controller. Some patients tell their dermatologist that they feel embarrassed, frustrated, or insecure. These feelings can cause people to become unhappy, depressed, or anxious.