Hydrosis

Abstract: Sweating is a physiological and vital process. The basic distinction is made between two types of sweating: thermoregulatory and emotional sweating. Most of the sweat glands are of the eccrine type. They produce a thin secretion that is hypotonic to plasma (e1). Eccrine sweat glands are distributed all over the body; their highest density is in the axillary region, on the palms of the hands, and on the soles of the feet (1). Their main function is thermoregulation. Apocrine sweat glands are found primarily in the axillae and the urogenital region. These scent glands become active during puberty and secrete a viscous fluid. They are responsible for a person’s "personal," occasionally unpleasant, odor (e1). Thermoregulation is important to maintain an even body temperature and thus homeostasis (e2). Increased sweating, as in hyperhidrosis, may constitute an important problem. Those affected experience substantial impairments in terms of the social and professional environments because of increased sweat production, and the resultant subjective perception of illness at the individual level may be substantial. This article explains the neuronal regulation of sweat secretion, aiming to deliver a better understanding of the pathophysiology of hyperhidrosis. We provide an overview of different primary and secondary hyperhidroses, their diagnosis, and therapeutic options.