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Why do I sweat so much more than everyone else?

Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS

Primary hyperhidrosis, drenching palms, feet, or underarms since youth, symmetric, sparing sleep, is a common overactive sweat reflex, not a hygiene failure. It runs in families.

It is very treatable: clinical-strength aluminum chloride antiperspirants applied to bone-dry skin at night are step one; prescription wipes, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin injections and oral medicines follow. Nobody needs to accept ruined shirts as personality.

New sweating that arrives in adulthood, soaks the sheets at night, or comes with weight loss, fever or palpitations is a different pattern, and that one is a doctor visit to look for a cause.

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