What is excessive sweating?
The term excessive sweating, also known as Hyperhidrosis, refers to a level of sweating
higher than the normal physiological sweat level.
What is a focal Hyperhidrosis?
Focal Hyperhidrosis refers to an increased
production of sweat, only in small areas of the skin, e. g. palms, feet or armpits.
Depending on the affected body area it is called palmar, plantar or axillar Hyperhidrosis.
A focal Hyperhidrosis is not only an aesthetic problem,
but can also produce for the affected person a severe impairment of social and
professional contacts. In different professions (e.g. musicians, electricians,
watchmakers) damp hands are a significant handicap and often lead to a massive expression
of a career change.
Especially in professions that are associated with frequent social contact and the
requirement of shaking hands, people with wet hands make the impression of being uncertain
and anxious. This again shows, that palmar Hyperhidrosis represents a very significant
issue and must not be ignored. Persons who suffer from this condition often avoid social
contacts and are at risk to suffer from social isolation and a lower life quality.
What is a generalized Hyperhidrosis?
In a generalized Hyperhidrosis, larger areas of the body are affected. People who suffer
from generalized Hyperhidrosis often have to change their clothes several times a day and
because of the wet clothes, they are more likely to come down with influenza infections.
As well as with the focal Hyperhidrosis, the generalized Hyperhidrosis leads in a
long-term view to complete social isolation, unemployment and a lower quality of life.
What are the causes for Hyperhidrosis?
There is a distinction between primary and secondary Hyperhidrosis. Both can be the cause
for this condition.
In the primary or idiopathic Hyperhidrosis there is no specific cause for the increased
sweat production that can be found. This group includes the majority of focal
Hyperhidrosis, which have to do with palms, soles and armpits. For this form of
Hyperhidrosis it is assumed, that the sweat center in the hypothalamus is more sensitive
to different stimuli, and thus – without the need for thermoregulation – early
stimulates sweat.
The secondary Hyperhidrosis refers to a number of internal medical and neurological
disorders, which may represent important symptoms of Hyperhidrosis. Often, the excessive
sweating is one of the first symptoms the patient notices.
The following list gives an overview of possible triggers for secondary Hyperhidrosis:
Internal Diseases:
Obesity, infections, malignant neoplasms, thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, other
endocrine causes
