Hypohidrosis

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 Leprosy Leprosy is a chronic infection usually caused by the acid-fast bacilli Mycobacterium leprae or the closely related organism M. lepromatosis. These organisms have a unique tropism... read more ], or inflammation) or by atrophy of glands resulting from connective tissue disease (eg, systemic sclerosis Systemic Sclerosis Systemic sclerosis is a rare chronic disease of unknown cause characterized by diffuse fibrosis and vascular abnormalities in the skin, joints, and internal organs (especially the esophagus... read more , systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disorder of autoimmune etiology, occurring predominantly in young women. Common manifestations may include arthralgias and... read more , Sjögren syndrome Sjögren Syndrome Sjögren syndrome is a relatively common chronic, autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder of unknown cause. It is characterized by dryness of the mouth, eyes, and other mucous membranes ... read more ).

Hypohidrosis is a feature of some genetic conditions (eg, hypohidrotic and anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia). A mutation of a single gene (ITPR2), which encodes a calcium channel, results in anhidrosis, the complete absence of sweating (1 Reference 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... read more ).

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 Heatstroke Heatstroke is hyperthermia accompanied by a systemic inflammatory response causing multiple organ dysfunction that may result in death. Symptoms include temperature > 40° C and altered mental... read more causes inadequate sweating but is a central nervous system disorder rather than a skin disorder.

Diagnosis of hypohidrosis is by clinical observation of decreased sweating or by heat intolerance.

Treatment of hypohidrosis is by cooling measures (eg, air-conditioning, wet garments).

(See also Introduction to Sweating Disorders Introduction to Sweating Disorders There are two types of sweat glands: apocrine and eccrine. Apocrine glands are clustered in the axillae, areolae, genitals, and anus; modified apocrine glands are found in the external auditory... read more .)