Hyperhidrosis is the technical term for sweating too much. It’s a condition that affects about 3 percent of adults in the U.S. between the ages of 20 and 60 years old.

So what does life with hyperhidrosis look like? Here’s some background on what to expect, from getting diagnosed to finding treatment.

Hyperhidrosis Symptoms

Everyone gets sweaty sometimes. Sweat helps keep your body temperature from overheating. It’s normal to sweat more in hot weather or during exercise. However, people with hyperhidrosis sweat at unusual times. For instance, they may get sweaty even when it’s cool out or when they’re resting.

People with hyperhidrosis often get sweaty hands. They may notice that their clothing gets damp easily and their forehead frequently drips sweat. Some have minor symptoms and may not even realize they have hyperhidrosis.

Others with severe symptoms may deal with embarrassing body odor, cracked feet, or itchy skin irritation from excessive sweating. When hyperhidrosis symptoms get out of control, they can negatively affect your mental health and self-esteem.

Causes and Types of Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis means the nerve that controls sweat production is overactive.

Most people with hyperhidrosis are born with it. They inherit the genes for it from their parents. When this happens, it’s called primary focal hyperhidrosis. Symptoms usually begin in young adulthood.

The less common type of hyperhidrosis is called secondary generalized hyperhidrosis. It’s caused by an outside factor, like another medical condition or a side effect of medication. Various health conditions can lead to excessive sweating.

If you have an infection, you may have a temporary fever and sweating. Menopause, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and Parkinson’s disease may also cause hyperhidrosis symptoms.

In addition, some medications that can cause excessive sweating include:

• Albuterol inhalers
• Bupropion
• Insulin
• Levothyroxine
• Lisinopril
• Omeprazole
• Sertraline

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if sweating is a side effect of any of your meds.

How Is Hyperhidrosis Diagnosed?

You might be diagnosed with hyperhidrosis if you’ve had excessive sweating for at least six months and answer yes to at least two of the following questions:

• Do you notice sweat on your face, the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet, or in your armpits?
• Does sweating affect both sides of your body equally?
• Does sweating seem to mostly stop at night?
• Do your excessive sweating episodes last for at least seven days in a row?
• Do you have a family history of hyperhidrosis?
• Does sweating get in the way of your daily life?
• Are you under 25 years old?

Tests can also help diagnose hyperhidrosis. For example, imaging and blood tests can show if there’s an underlying condition affecting your skin or overall health. A paper test uses special paper to absorb and measure sweat on a certain area of the body.

Finally, a starch iodine test involves placing an iodine solution over a sweaty area. Your provider then puts starch on the area to see if it turns blue (which means there’s excessive sweating). This usually isn’t needed if your provider can already see that you have signs of hyperhidrosis.

Treatment of Hyperhidrosis

If your doctor thinks you have secondary hyperhidrosis, they’ll work on treating the underlying cause first. Sometimes, hyperhidrosis can be managed at home. But for more severe cases, your healthcare provider may suggest prescriptions or procedures to cut down on excessive sweating.

Showering more often and wearing breathable fabrics can make hyperhidrosis less bothersome. In addition, you can use aluminum-based antiperspirants as a first-line treatment to seal the sweat glands. Some products are available over the counter. But you can also get stronger prescription deodorants from your doctor.

Different medications can cut down on sweating. These include:

• Anticholinergics
• Antidepressants
• Beta-blockers

Medicated wipes and aluminum chloride gels can also treat the affected areas. A less permanent treatment option is botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, which stop sweating for a few months. Iontophoresis (delivering medication through the skin with mild electricity) and microwave therapy (using high temperature to disable sweat glands) are two other specialized treatments that block or destroy sweat glands. Your healthcare provider may recommend these options if you haven’t had success with other treatments.

If you’re not seeing results, your dermatologist may recommend surgery as a last resort. You can have surgery to remove your sweat glands or shut down nerve signals that promote sweat production.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyHyperhidrosisTeam, people share their experiences with hyperhidrosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How does excessive sweating impact your quality of life? Let others know in the comments below.