Last reviewed: 1 Nov 2024
Last updated: 18 Jan 2024
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- excessive palmar sweating
- excessive plantar sweating
- onset in early childhood or puberty
- exacerbation of palmar sweating with use of hand lotion
- severe facial sweating
- severe axillary sweating
- generalized sweating
Full details
Risk factors
- family history
- spicy foods
- medications
- endocrine disorders
- cardiovascular diseases
- hypoglycemia
- menopause
- infectious diseases
- sepsis
- neoplastic diseases
- carcinoid tumors
- neurologic injuries
- obesity
Full details
Diagnostic tests
Tests to consider
- starch-iodine test
- gravimetry
- thyroid function test
- metabolic panel
- 24-hour urine collection for catecholamines, metanephrines, normetanephrines
- serum free metanephrines, normetanephrines
- urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid
- chest x-ray
- CT scans
Full details
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
primary: axillary hyperhidrosis
primary: palmar hyperhidrosis
primary: plantar hyperhidrosis
primary: craniofacial hyperhidrosis
secondary hyperhidrosis
Contributors
Authors
Fritz J. Baumgartner, MD
Surgery Associates
Long Beach
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance
CA
Disclosures
FJB is author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Jane S. Bellet, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham
NC
Disclosures
JSB declares that he has no competing interests.
Jonathan Villena-Vargas, MD
Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery Department
New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
NY
Disclosures
JVV declares that he has no competing interests.
Alan Cameron, MA, MCh, FRCS
Consultant Surgeon
Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
Ipswich
UK
Disclosures
AC declares that he has no competing interests.
Guidelines
- About hyperhidrosis: diagnosis guidelines
- About hyperhidrosis: clinical guidelines
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