Types and causes of hyperhidrosis
Sweating is a natural response to certain conditions, such as warm weather, physical activity, stress, and feelings of fear or anger. With hyperhidrosis, you sweat more than usual for no apparent reason. The underlying cause depends on which type of hyperhidrosis you have.
Primary focal hyperhidrosis
Sweating mainly occurs on your feet, hands, face, head, and underarms. It usually starts in childhood. About 30 to 50 percentTrusted Source of people with this type have a family history of excessive sweating.
Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis
Secondary generalized hyperhidrosis is sweating caused by a medical condition or as a side effect of certain medications. It generally starts in adulthood. With this type, you might sweat all over your body, or in just one area. You might also sweat while you’re sleeping.
Conditions that can cause this type include:
- heart disease
- cancer
- adrenal gland disorders
- stroke
- hyperthyroidism
- menopause
- spinal cord injuries
- lung disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis or HIV
Several types of prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause hyperhidrosis as well. In many cases, sweating is a rare side effect that most people don’t experience. However, excessive sweating is a common side effect of antidepressants such as:
- desipramined (Norpramin)
- nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- protriptyline
People who take pilocarpine for dry mouth or zinc as a mineral dietary supplement can also experience excessive sweating.
