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, SLE, 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 (see Heat Illness: Heatstroke). A rare presentation is fever of unknown origin.

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 April 2013 by David M. Pariser