Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Hyperhidrosis test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Excessive sweating on some parts of my body
Skin maceration
Armpits sweat too much
Moistened, soft skin that is breaking down
Face sweats easily
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
This refers to excessive sweating, even in cool weather and when not exercising. This can affect the whole body or only specific parts (e.g. sweaty palms). Hyperhidrosis can occasionally be caused by some thyroid disorders, problems with the nerves, as a side effect of some medication, or most commonly has no known cause (idiopathic).
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
First-line treatment includes prescription-strength topical agents, medicated wipes, or oral therapies. For localized cases, injectable therapies that temporarily block sweat gland activity may be used. Surgical approaches are generally reserved for severe cases that do not respond to other treatments.
Reviewed By:
Sarita Nori, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Sarita Nori was drawn to dermatology because of the intersection of science and medicine that is at the heart of dermatology. She feels this is what really allows her to help her patients. “There is a lot of problem-solving in dermatology and I like that,” she explains. “It’s also a profession where you can help people quickly and really make a difference in their lives.” | Some of the typical skin problems that Dr. Nori treats include skin cancers, psoriasis, acne, eczema, rashes, and contact dermatitis. Dr Nori believes in using all possible avenues of treatment, such as biologics, especially in patients with chronic diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. “These medications can work superbly, and they are really life-changing for many patients.” | Dr. Nori feels it’s important for patients to have a good understanding of the disease or condition that is affecting them. “I like to educate my patients on their problem and have them really understand it so they can take the best course of action. Patients always do better when they understand their skin condition, and how to treat it.”
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Sep 2, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
We would love to help them too.
With a free 3-min Hyperhidrosis quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms

Our AI

Your report

Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
See full list
Q.
Excessive Sweat? Why Your Glands Overreact & Medical Next Steps
A.
Excessive sweating often comes from overactive nerve signals to normal sweat glands (primary hyperhidrosis) or from medical conditions or medications like thyroid disease, diabetes, menopause, infections, or antidepressants that can cause sudden, widespread, or nighttime sweating. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. For next steps, see a clinician to distinguish primary from secondary causes with history, exam, and labs, and consider treatments ranging from clinical antiperspirants and prescription topicals to oral medicines, Botox, iontophoresis, microwave therapy, and rarely surgery, while seeking urgent care for red flags like chest pain, shortness of breath, high fever, confusion, or a sudden severe headache.
References:
* Shen, H., Lv, S., Yu, M., Li, D., & Guo, W. (2022). Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hyperhidrosis: An updated review. *Frontiers in Medicine*, *9*, 903704.
* Pariser, D. M. (2021). The Comprehensive Approach to Hyperhidrosis: Clinical Review. *Dermatology Online Journal*, *27*(12).
* Glascock, K. N., & Glascock, D. L. (2023). Update on the medical and surgical management of primary hyperhidrosis: a systematic review. *Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology*, *22*(3), 773-784.
* Adler, B. L., Berti, A., & Daveluy, S. D. (2020). Primary focal hyperhidrosis: diagnosis and treatment. *The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology*, *13*(10), 40-49.
* Hempstead, L. C., & Davis, S. A. (2022). Update on hyperhidrosis treatment. *Dermatologic Therapy*, *35*(2), e15263.
Q.
Hyperhidrosis? Why Your Glands Overreact & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating due to overactive sweat-gland nerves; it can be primary and focal or secondary to conditions or medications, and while disruptive it is very treatable. There are several factors to consider, from ruling out red flags to selecting medically approved options such as prescription antiperspirants, topical and oral medications, iontophoresis, Botox, microwave therapy, and rarely surgery. See below to understand more about diagnosis, when to seek urgent care, lifestyle supports, and stepwise next steps that could change which treatment you and your clinician choose.
References:
* Reisfeld, R., & Smith, K. (2020). Primary focal hyperhidrosis: an update on etiology, diagnosis, and medical treatment. *The American Journal of Medicine*, *133*(8), 923-929. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.03.003.
* Garcovich, S., Di Mattia, A., Dell'Acqua, A., Ciminello, A., Vaira, L. A., D'Addona, A., ... & Dell'Edera, D. (2022). Current treatment of primary hyperhidrosis: a narrative review. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *11*(16), 4697. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11164697.
* Lomas, A., & Green, A. (2022). Hyperhidrosis: Clinical features, diagnosis, and management. *Australian Journal of General Practice*, *51*(5), 374-378. DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-09-21-6156.
* Stolman, L. P. (2018). The Pathophysiology of Primary Focal Hyperhidrosis. *Dermatologic Clinics*, *36*(2), 173-176. DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2017.11.002.
* Hashmi, S. J., Khachemoune, A., & Lee, W. (2023). Hyperhidrosis: A Comprehensive Review of the Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, and Therapeutic Options. *Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery*, *27*(6), 575-585. DOI: 10.1177/12034754231215170.
Q.
Drenched in Sweat? It’s Not Just the Heat—It’s Your Sleep
A.
Waking up drenched in sweat can be caused by more than a hot room: common triggers include stress, hormonal shifts like menopause, infections, medications, blood sugar swings, and hyperhidrosis, all of which can disrupt sleep. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more and how to tell normal from concerning. If sweats are frequent, last over two weeks, affect daytime function, start after a new medicine, occur with diabetes, or come with fever, weight loss, cough, chest pain, swollen nodes, or severe fatigue, talk to a clinician. The complete guidance below outlines practical fixes for tonight and when to seek care.
References:
* Li, M., Tang, R., Zhang, M., Dong, Z., & Chen, G. (2021). Obstructive sleep apnea and night sweats: A systematic review and meta-analysis. *Sleep Medicine*, *83*, 19-26.
* Meltzer, S. J., & Leiter, L. A. (2013). Night Sweats: An Overview of the Etiology and Differential Diagnosis. *Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine*, *9*(10), 1083-1093.
* Romeijn, N., Van Someren, E. J., & Raymann, R. J. (2012). Thermoregulation during sleep. *Comprehensive Physiology*, *2*(4), 1877-1904.
* Chaudhary, N. K., & Sharma, A. (2013). Sleep and autonomic nervous system. *Journal of Sleep Research*, *22*(3), 241-255.
* Krauchi, K. (2021). Sleep and thermoregulation: Recent developments. *Current Opinion in Physiology*, *21*, 1-7.
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.

“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024

“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023

“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)

Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1McConaghy JR, Fosselman D. Hyperhidrosis: Management Options. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Jun 1;97(11):729-734. PMID: 30215934.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/0601/p729.htmlLenefsky M, Rice ZP. Hyperhidrosis and its impact on those living with it. Am J Manag Care. 2018 Dec;24(23 Suppl):S491-S495. PMID: 30589248.
https://www.ajmc.com/view/hyperhidrosis-and-its-impact--on-those-living-with-itNawrocki S, Cha J. The etiology, diagnosis, and management of hyperhidrosis: A comprehensive review: Etiology and clinical work-up. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Sep;81(3):657-666. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.12.071. Epub 2019 Jan 31. PMID: 30710604.
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(19)30168-9/fulltext