What should you know about excessive sweating all the time?

Sweating can seem continuous when the skin stays damp, episodes recur throughout the day, or night-time sweating interrupts sleep. Primary hyperhidrosis may be long-standing and focused in areas such as the underarms, hands, feet or face. Persistent sweating that begins later, spreads to more areas or appears during sleep needs a broader review. Heat, medicines, hormonal changes, thyroid overactivity, low blood glucose and sleep-related breathing problems can all be relevant clues. Record whether you also have palpitations, tremor, fever, thirst, fatigue or weight change.

Keep skin clean and dry, choose loose breathable fabrics and change clothing when it becomes wet. Use an antiperspirant according to its directions and stop if significant irritation develops. A diary can show whether episodes follow meals, exercise, stress, warmth or medication doses. Book a medical review if the symptom is persistent or intrusive; do not stop prescribed medicine without advice. Once the pattern is clear, options for selected areas may include topical treatment, iontophoresis, botulinum toxin injections or microwave treatment.

Prompt assessment is appropriate for new persistent sweating, soaking night sweats, fever, unexplained weight change or a racing heartbeat. Seek urgent help for sweating with chest discomfort, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion or severe weakness. If clamminess comes with shaking, dizziness or blurred vision, consider low blood glucose as a possible emergency, particularly when diabetes treatment is involved. Heat exposure followed by headache, nausea or altered alertness also requires urgent attention.

What does the timing of my sweating suggest? Could my medicines or another health problem be contributing? Should we check thyroid or glucose-related causes? Which area-focused treatment is appropriate after the review?