PRIMARY OR IDIOPATHIC HYPERHIDROSIS: Is a rare and permanent dysfunction of the Sudomotor Center of the brain (the center responsible for the control of sweating). For reasons not yet known, this center overstimulates the sweat glands of given regions of the body, by means of the sympathetic nervous system, causing intense localized sweating. The regions most affected are the hands, armpits, face, feet and, occasionally, the torso and the scalp, with different combinations of severity and location.
Hyperhidrosis causes anguish and embarrassment, severely impacting the social, professional, and, especially, the psychological well-being of its sufferers.
The main clinical characteristics of primary hyperhidrosis are:
* Palmar (hand) and and Plantar (feet) Hyperhidrosis begins in childhood.
* Axillary (underarm) Hyperhidrosis appears in adolescence.
* Facial Hyperhidrosis usually surfaces in early adulthood.
* It almost always persists throughout one’s life.
* Puberty aggravates the symptoms.
* The incidence is the same for both sexes, however, Axillary Hyperhidrosis is slightly more common in women.
* It attacks all races, but is more frequent in Asians and Jews.
* It is more common on the hands and feet, followed by armpits and face, with varying severity and combinations.
* The glands in the affected areas are histologically and numerically normal.
* There are small differences in intensity between summer and winter.
* It is triggered by stress, heat and some tastes. Among these, the most important is stress.
* It is not aggravated by exercise.
* It ceases during sleep.
* It appears to run in families.
SECONDARY HYPERHIDROSIS: It is due to conditions that lead to an increase of Sympathetic Activity (Hyperthyroidism, Menopause, Psychiatric Disturbances, Paraneoplastic Syndrome, Obesity, Stroke, etc. It usually affects either the whole body or part of one side of the body.