Hyperhidrosis What Is It

Hyperhidrosis is a condition which affects the function of the sweat glands in the body. It can affect just one part of the body or the entire body at a time. Primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis are the two main types of hyperhidrosis. Although there is usually no evident cause for primary hyperhidrosis, secondary hyperhidrosis is usually caused by another underlying health condition such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). It is a very common condition which actually affects around three percent of the English population.

You may find that one of the symptoms you will experience with this condition will be excessive facial sweating. Various parts of the face such as the nose, forehead or lips will experience an excessive amount of sweating if the person is suffering from hyperhidrosis of the face. The neck and scalp can also suffer from excessive sweating if you have facial hyperhidrosis. Excessive sweating is the term which would describe continuous dripping sweat in any one area which needs to be wiped constantly.

The previous assumption that primary hyperhidrosis was a psychological condition has been discredited recently by scientists after carrying out extensive research. Studies have proved that you do not need to suffer from conditions such as anxiety or stress to suffer from primary hyperhidrosis. And in fact research has also shown that this condition could be a genetic condition.

In contrast, secondary hyperhidrosis can be caused by a number of underlying health conditions including heart failure, pregnancy, respiratory failure, hyperthyroidism, anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse gout and obesity. Other things which can cause secondary hyperhidrosis are some medications, certain kinds of cancers, certain infections and some neurological disorders.

You may be asking how to stop sweating but lifestyle changes cannot cure primary hyperhidrosis. However there are treatments that can improve the symptoms. The underlying condition of secondary hyperhidrosis will have to be treated for this condition to improve.

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