Causes of Hyperhidrosis

The cause of hyperhidrosis is based upon the origin of the stimulus causing the sweating response.

These triggers may come from the;

• Emotional response
• Mental
• Sensory

• Exercise,
• Thermoregulation,
• Systemic diseases - infections, etc

• Chiari malformations (malformation of the brain) can cause localized hyperhidrosis
• Infarction (stroke)

• Syringomyelia is a disease of the spinal cord that can also cause rare hyperhidrosis,
• Spinal cord mass lesions (such as tumors) can cause it

• Hyperhidrosis can occur bordering painful skin lesions such as venous ulcers

• Post-sympathectomy (surgical interruption of nerves)
• Ross syndrome

• Hyperthyroidism - excessive activity of the thyroid
• Hyperpituitarism - excessive secretion of the pituitary gland
• Increased release of catecholamine (shock, fight-or flight response)

• Axilla - underarms
• Palms of hand
• Soles of feet

Common sites of excessive sweating and their impact on Quality of Life (QOL)

• Sweaty palms and feet have a higher QOL impact than axillary sweating

• QOL impact can be significant - embarrassing, sweat stains, odor

• Highly visible, highest QOL impact (more than hands & feet, and more than axillary)
• Generalized (QOL impact is higher than isolated localized hyperhidrosis)

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