What's in this article?
Anhidrosis, sometimes referred to as hypohidrosis, sudomotor dysfunction or sweating dysfunction, is an abnormal lack of sweat in response to heat, the person’s body is unable to sweat normally.
Anhidrosis is the complete absence of sweating, while hypohidrosis is sweating less than normal.
If the human body cannot sweat properly it cannot cool itself, which is potentially harmful. Sweating allows heat to be released from the body.
If the lack of sweating affects a small area of the body, it is not usually dangerous. However, overall anhidrosis or hypohidrosis can result in overheating and eventually heatstroke, a potentially life-threatening condition.
According to the National Institute’s of Health, people with anhidrosis may not know they have the condition until a significant amount of heat or exertion fails to induce proper sweating.
Causes of Hypohidrosis
Generalised hyperhidrosis is often organic, while localised hyperhidrosis is in most cases a primary condition and regional hyperhidrosis often has a neurological cause.
Anhidrosis Reasons
There can be several reasons why anhidrosis or hypohidrosis occurs. For normal sweating to occur, the following processes are necessary :
- The temperature control center must be able to detect that the temperature is too high.
- Nerves must carry stimulatory signals from the temperature control center to the sweat glands.
- The sweat glands must be able to produce and secrete sweat.
- There must be sufficient water available for sweat production.
Therefore anhidrosis is mainly a problem with the temperature control centers in the brain, the nerves that control sweat glands, a defect with the sweat glands or insufficient water availability in the body. This entire system of regulating temperature and controlling sweating is not under voluntary control.
Treatment
Hyperhidrosis is still under-treated as it is not considered to be a disease. At present we do have effective treatments, ranging from topical treatments to surgery.
MEDICAL TREATMENTS
- TOPICAL ANTIPERSPIRANTS
- IONTOPHORESIS
- MEDICINES
- BOTULINUM TOXIN INJECTIONS
