Increased Sweating

Overview

Increased sweating is also known as hyperhidrosis. It happens more often in the hands, feet, and armpits. This problem can affect people of all age groups. The exact cause of increased sweating is not known to date. Some identified triggers of this problem are humidity, heat, exercise, emotional stress, spicy food, menopause, certain medications, autonomic dysfunction, tuberculosis, Hodgkin disease, and metabolic disorders such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, gout, pituitary disorders, and pheochromocytoma. Increased sweating is not a life-threatening condition, but it may affect people's quality of life. Some people may also notice that their skin cracks, wrinkles or become inflamed with chronic sweating. Treatment options of increased sweating include antiperspirants, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin A injection into affected areas, and surgery such as video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy. Video-assisted thoracic sympathectomy is only reserved for people who have severe hyperhidrosis and do not respond to other treatment methods.