Causes of Excessive Sweating

Finding the causes of excessive sweating can feel like an impossible mission for someone who is suffering. All you know is that you tend to sweat a lot more than the average person. It can be embarrassing, and interrupt your professional and social life. By understanding the causes, you can begin seeking treatment to end the sweat.

First, know that it is important to be evaluated by your doctor. That’s because sweating excessively can sometimes be a symptom of a much more serious problem. Diabetes, infections, thyroid problems, and obesity can all lead to excess sweat. Getting these things checked out (especially if you have other symptoms) is a smart decision.

However, many people find that their excessive sweating is not an indicator of a different disease. This can be good news, because excessive sweating on its own may not be a cause for further medical concern. That does not mean you don’t want to get rid of it any less! Understand that sweating does have a valuable role in keeping your body healthy — but if you do sweat more than average, it can definitely hold you back in life.

The medical term for excessive sweating is called hyperhidrosis. It can occur even when you are not exerting yourself, and it can come along with little to no warning. Sweating without exertion or excess heat is a definite sign that this is something you’ll want to play close attention to.

Some people experience the symptoms of excessive sweating nearly all over their body, while others only experience it in certain areas — such as their armpits or palms. Evaluate where you tend to excessively sweat, so you can start to pinpoint how you might treat the problem.

For those without an underlying condition, the sweat is called primary focal hyperhidrosis. This type is where it tends to be local to a specific area. It has to do with a part of your nervous system not functioning properly.

Those who tend to sweat excessively all over have something called secondary general hyperhidrosis. This is usually when there is an underlying medical condition. You’ll definitely need to have yourself evaluated by a doctor to see if you have something like diabetes or a thyroid disorder. Knowing this information can help you move forward. Strongly consider seeing your doctor if you have generalized sweating, night sweats, or other symptoms.

The good news is that if you have primary focal hyperhidrosis (where excess sweat is the only problem), there are steps you can take to eliminate this unnecessary and embarrassing sweating so you can live your life normally. Even if you’ve been dealing with this since your childhood (and many people do!), you don’t have to live with the embarrassment any longer since you understand the causes of excessive sweating.