Here’s Why Some People Sweat More Than Others

Dee Anna Glaser, MD, professor of dermatology, St. Louis University; president, International Hyperhidrosis Society.

How Much Sweating Is Too Much?

Sweat, as stinky and uncomfortable as it can be, is a natural and healthy part of life, helping to cool the body. But excessive sweating can pose problems in your social life and relationships, and perhaps even to your emotional health.

How can you tell if you sweat excessively, beyond the body’s normal needs? Check the answers below to find out.

Why Do I Sweat?

Sweat helps maintain a normal body temperature. “Sweating is your body’s way of reducing your internal body temperature,” says dermatologist Patricia Farris, MD, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University in New Orleans.

When temperatures rise — for any reason — the sweat glands kick in to produce more sweat, Farris says. You might have a fever. You might be nervous. It may be hot outside. Or you may be exercising.

This is why “in summer, we sweat more,” says Eric Schweiger, MD, a dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York.

The problem isn’t a shortage of people wanting to be doctors, but rather, too few opportunities for training. Medical schools have increased class sizes by 30% since 2002, but federal funding for residency training – an essential step in the process of becoming a practicing physician – has not increased since 1997, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Even your diet can play a role in your sweat output. “Some people have a sweating response to spicy foods,” Schweiger says, as well as some hot foods or beverages.

Sweating: What’s Normal, What’s Not?

“The amount of sweat considered normal is quite variable and depends on the demands of the body,” says Dee Anna Glaser, MD, a professor of dermatology at St. Louis University, in St. Louis, Mo., and president of the International Hyperhidrosis Society.

People may sweat less than a liter, or up to several liters a day, based on what they’re doing.

“It is going to depend on whether you are an office worker in a climate-controlled building, or a roadside worker in Alabama,” Glaser says.

If you’re exercising or doing manual labor in a hot climate, expect to sweat a lot. It’s normal.

What Is Excessive Sweating?

Excessive sweating, also called hyperhidrosis, means that you sweat far more than your body needs you to sweat. For example, if you sweat while sitting calmly at your desk, that is excessive sweating.

In hyperhidrosis, the body’s cooling mechanism is so overactive that it produces four or five times the amount of sweat that you need. About 3% of the population has excessive sweating.

Because people have different “sweat needs,” doctors say they can’t put a solid number on the question: how much sweat does it take to be diagnosed with excessive sweating?

“It’s very difficult to quantify, but most people really do understand when they are sweating too much,” Glaser says.

”If you think you are sweating more than everyone else, or more than you used to, there is probably an issue going on,” she tells WebMD.

Patients are very good at knowing how much is too much, Schweiger agrees. “Pretty much anyone who comes to me [complaining of] excess sweating has it,” he says.

Except for women during the menopausal transition, there’s no “normal” increase in sweating with age, Glaser says. If you think you’re sweating more as you get older, don’t just chalk it up to additional birthdays, she says.

One telltale clue that sweating may be abnormal, Glaser says, is sweating excessively from one area of your body only. (But sometimes excessive sweating occurs all over the body.)

Sweating without a need for it is another sign of abnormal sweating. “If you’re sweating constantly in the winter in Chicago, that’s probably excessive,” Farris says.

Those with excessive sweating of the feet may produce so much sweat they are sliding out of their shoes, she says.

What Causes Excessive Sweating?

Most often, no cause of excessive sweating can be found. Doctors call it idiopathic — meaning the cause is unknown or obscure. However, there may be genetic influences.

“About 50% of people with primary [excessive sweating] have a known family history,” Glaser says.

This type of excessive sweating usually begins after puberty, Glaser says. Sweating just on the hands and feet often starts even younger, perhaps in infancy or during the toddler years.

A variety of other factors can cause excessive sweating, including underlying medical conditions and medicines, Glaser says.

• Frey’s syndrome is a condition in which sweating occurs from just one side of the face when certain foods are eaten. It occurs after surgery on, or injury near, the saliva-producing glands.
• Medications taken for endocrine problems, diabetes, and thyroid disease can also trigger excessive sweating.
• So can certain high blood pressure medicines, as well as some antidepressant medications.
• In addition, heavy sweating can be caused by infections, certain cancers, heart or lung disease, menopause, and sometimes even a stroke.

How Is Excessive Sweating Diagnosed?

It’s important to keep in mind that most people who sweat heavily are normal, and not sick. If you are worried, and decide to see a doctor, most specialists will take a careful medical history, Glaser says.

Among the questions you can expect:

• Do you sweat excessively from certain small areas of your body or all over?
• When do you notice yourself sweating? Can you describe the situation?
• What medications are you taking regularly?
• Have you recently started taking new medications?
• Have you had any surgeries recently?
• Are you going through menopause?
• Do you have family members who complain of excessive sweating?

If the doctor determines that your sweating is “idiopathic,” and has no known cause, you can still treat the problem if you wish. Treatments range from simple home remedies such as showering more frequently to medications or surgery such as sweat gland removal.

It’s important to see a doctor, Glaser says. So many of her patients, she says, have been told even by health care professionals: “It’s no big deal.”

But Glaser sees the impact excessive sweating can have on her patient’s lives. “I have teenagers who will not raise their hands in class,” she says, fearing their underarm area will be excessively and embarrassingly wet. “I have kids who have never gone on a date.”

Quality of life is affected in older patients too. “It can affect business relationships,” Schweiger says. “People are embarrassed to shake hands.”

So don’t sweat about the problem. Instead, talk to an expert. Remember, sweating is a good thing. But too much of a good thing can become a big problem.

Show Sources

Dee Anna Glaser, MD, professor of dermatology, St. Louis University; president, International Hyperhidrosis Society.

Patricia Farris, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology, Tulane University; member, American Academy of Dermatology.

Eric Schweiger, MD, dermatologist; clinical instructor of dermatology, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York City.

WebMD Medical Reference From Healthwise: “Frey’s Syndrome.”

Here’s Why Some People Sweat More Than Others

We all sweat. But for some of us, we may sweat a little too much.

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That can lead to embarrassing moments where our underarms, hands and other parts of our bodies are visibly sweaty.

Excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis, a condition where your body’s sweat glands are overactive. It can cause you to perspire in spots where other people wouldn’t, and at times that aren’t convenient.

About 2% to 5% of people in the U.S. have hyperhidrosis. But that number could be higher, as many people don’t talk about their symptoms, even though they have trouble controlling their sweat.

Nurse practitioner Melissa Holtz, CNP, talks about why you might sweat too much and what you can do to help manage excessive sweating.

Why do people sweat?

Your sweat is made up of mostly water, but it also contains chloride, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

And when your body’s temperature gets too high, your sweat glands start working to cool your body down. Ideally, you want to keep your body at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).

“Sweating actually assists with your body’s thermal regulation, skin hydration and helps balance our fluids and electrolytes,” explains Holtz.

When you have hyperhidrosis, your sweat glands work too hard, producing sweat you don’t need.

“When we’re sweating too much, it’s thought to be an abnormal or an exaggerated central response to normal emotional or physical stimuli,” says Holtz. “Usually the glands themselves are normal. You’re just having an exaggerated response to normal stimuli.”

Excessive sweating can affect the following areas:

• Palms of your hands.
• Soles of your feet.
• Armpits.
• Face.
• Chest.
• Back.
• Groin area.

Reasons people can sweat more

There are a variety of reasons you might sweat more than others.

Exercise

When you work out and elevate your heart rate, your body’s temperature increases. That kick starts your sweat glands and you start to perspire. On average, you may lose about 2 liters of fluid while exercising. Drinking water before, during and after your workout is key to replacing lost fluids and cooling your body down. It can also help prevent dehydration.

Weather

We can all relate to those hot, humid summer days where just a short trip outside results in us becoming a sweaty mess. When temperatures soar, our chances of sweating increase. Also, hot, humid air makes it harder for sweat to evaporate off your body.

Alcohol

Consuming alcohol, even just one drink, can increase your heart rate and widen blood vessels in your skin. This can make you sweaty. If you’re going through alcohol withdrawal, you can have excessive sweating and even night sweats.

“Alcohol consumption disrupts the communication between the nervous and endocrine systems,” says Holtz. “This causes hormonal disturbances, which can lead to sweating.”

Medications

Certain medications like antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood pressure medications and diabetes medicines can make you sweat. If you think this may be the cause, you can discuss options with your doctor.

Anxiety

Stress hormones can trigger your sweat glands. They raise your heart rate and blood pressure, leading to an increase in your body’s temperature. Emotional stress can lead to sweating on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet.

Hormones

You’ve heard of hot flashes — or may have experienced them yourself. During menopause, your estrogen levels go up and down. This makes it difficult for your hypothalamus, an area in your brain that controls temperature, to know if it needs to cool your body down or not. Hot flashes are the result — your body thinks it’s overheating so your sweat glands go into overdrive. You may feel hot, clammy and sweaty.

Fevers

If you’re sick, your body raises its temperature a few degrees. You may experience chills at first as your body tries to fight off whatever bug you may have. Then, as your fever breaks, you’ll feel hot and sweaty as your body works to regulate its temperature back to normal.

Caffeine and spicy foods

What you eat and drink can affect how much you sweat. Drinking coffee or anything with caffeine activates your central nervous system, which controls your sweat glands. Even spicy foods like hot sauce and jalapenos can trigger your sweat glands.

“If you’re drinking two cups of coffee, you should drink two glasses of water to balance it out and stay hydrated,” notes Holtz.

Tips to help manage extra sweat

Most people start noticing excessive sweating during their childhood. To be diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, you must experience excessive sweating for at least six months and rule out any other medical reasons.

To help manage your extra sweat, Holtz suggests trying out these methods:

• Drink water. It sounds like a no-brainer but staying hydrated can help regulate your body’s temperature.
• Wear light, breathable clothing. “People who are layering and wearing tight clothing are going to be more apt to sweating,” says Holtz. Opt for items made out of cotton and that are loose and allow for good airflow.
• Use clinical-strength antiperspirant. “These are available over-the-counter so they’re easy to get and you don’t need a prescription,” says Holtz. “Look for products with 15% to 20% aluminum chloride.” Holtz also says it’s best to use these products at night, giving the ingredients time to work and absorb into your body.
• Consider Botox ® . Your doctor may recommend injects of botulinum toxin to help control your sweating. Common areas that can be treated by Botox ® include your armpits and scalp. The treatment can last anywhere from three to nine months.
• Ask about additional treatments. If you’ve tried other methods and nothing seems to work, you can ask your doctor about topical glycopyrronium wipes, which are prescribed to treat hyperhidrosis. They can irritate your skin and are costly, so they usually aren’t the first line of defense against excessive sweating.

The biggest takeaway? You don’t have to suffer in silence, says Holtz.

Those with hyperhidrosis struggle in many social situations due to their excessive sweating, making it an emotional topic for them. But if you’ve tried multiple ways to manage your excessive sweat, consider seeing a doctor.

And there’s no need to be embarrassed.

“Don’t be worried that you’re not doing something right,” says Holtz. “Excessive sweating happens and there’s nothing you did that caused this.”