Hypohidrosis

By Shinjita Das, MD, Clinical Instructor;Physician, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School;Massachusetts General Hospital

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Hypohidrosis is inadequate sweating.

Hypohidrosis due to skin abnormalities is rarely clinically significant. It is most commonly focal and caused by local skin injury (eg, due to trauma, radiation, infection [eg, leprosy], or inflammation) or by atrophy of glands resulting from connective tissue disease (eg, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome).

Hypohidrosis may be caused by drugs, especially those with anticholinergic properties. It is also caused by diabetic neuropathy and a variety of congenital syndromes. Heatstroke causes inadequate sweating but is a CNS rather than a skin disorder.

Diagnosis is by clinical observation of decreased sweating or by heat intolerance. Treatment is by cooling measures (eg, air-conditioning, wet garments).

Last full review/revision March 2017 by Shinjita Das, MD