Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can be characterised in many ways; Profuse sweating where sufferers can experience excessive and persistent sweating, even in normal conditions or cool environments. It may interfere with everyday activities, such as work, social interactions, and personal relationships. This can be embarrassing and affect self-esteem. Some sufferers can experience frequent sweating on multiple body areas, although hyperhidrosis typically affects specific areas of the body, such as the underarms, palms, soles of the feet, face, or groin, it can involve multiple areas sweating simultaneously.
Noticeable sweat marks can occur on clothing, even without strenuous physical activity or warm weather. Also, Skin maceration is caused by prolonged moisture from excessive sweating, which is characterised by skin softening, wrinkling, and potential fungal or bacterial infections in the affected areas. Sufferers often complain of frequent skin irritation due to the constant moisture and friction, leading to redness, itching, or discomfort in the affected areas.
Social and emotional impact can be debilitating affecting a person’s social life and emotional well-being. It may lead to social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, or decreased confidence.
Hyperhidrosis may or may not be caused by another medical condition, it may also have genetic links, but in truth the actual cause isn’t known.
Normally, your sweat glands produce perspiration that’s carried to the skin’s surface when the air temperature rises, you get a fever, you’re exercising, or you’re feeling anxious, nervous, or under stress. When those things are no longer an issue, the nerves that signal sweating are put on hold.
For the 1% to 2% of people who have hyperhidrosis, the sweat glands don’t shut off. They sweat even when the circumstances don’t call for it: when they’re in air conditioning, or while they’re sitting and watching television.
The causes of hyperhidrosis depend on the type of sweating that’s happening. Most times, excessive sweating is harmless. In some cases, doctors don’t know why people sweat too much. In other cases, the causes of hyperhidrosis may be a medical condition that you need to be aware of.
There are two types of hyperhidrosis.
Primary hyperhidrosis (also called focal, or essential hyperhidrosis) causes excessive sweating in the hands, underarms, face, and feet without any apparent reason.
Secondary hyperhidrosis (also called generalized hyperhidrosis) causes excessive sweating all over the body or in a larger area of the body and can be caused by excessive heat as well as a medical condition or medication.
