Hyperhidrosis (Definition)

People with hyperhidrosis may sweat heavily even in cool conditions or at rest, beyond what heat or exertion would explain. It is generally divided into a primary form, without an identified cause, and a secondary form linked to another condition or medication. The sweating can affect daily comfort, clothing choices, and confidence in social and work settings. It may be focal, centering on areas like the palms, or generalized across the body. Clinicians sometimes gauge its impact with simple rating scales rather than by measuring sweat directly. When it is persistent, one-sided, or paired with other symptoms, it is reasonable to discuss it with a clinician. The word joins a prefix meaning excess to the root for sweating. Its impact often matters more than the exact volume, since even moderate sweat can disrupt daily life. A range of care options exists, from products to procedures, which a clinician can explain.

Someone who soaks through shirts on a mild day, with no fever or exertion, may be describing hyperhidrosis rather than ordinary sweating. The pattern matters too, since sweat confined to the palms and soles suggests a different form than sweat spread across the whole trunk. Whether it began in childhood or appeared suddenly in adulthood also helps distinguish the primary form from a secondary one.

It divides into primary hyperhidrosis and secondary hyperhidrosis, can be focal or generalized, and its impact is often rated with the severity scale.