Long term effects of excessive sweating

What are the long term effects of excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis?

Lifelong condition

These are mainly psychological in nature as this condition causes distress, shame and embarrassment for the sufferer. Plus there is also the fact that it tends to persist for a long period of time.

Excessive sweating starts during puberty and continues into adulthood and beyond. But many people find that their condition lasts throughout their life especially if they have inherited this for genetic reasons.

On a positive note, hyperhidrosis does not affect your lifespan: it is a relatively mild disease with no long term health risks to the sufferer.

Long term emotional effects

But the negative aspects cannot be ignored. Whilst this condition does not damage your health, it does impact on you in a psychological and emotional way.

It means many years of social anxiety, low self-esteem and a lack of self confidence. All of which has a detrimental effect on the sufferer’s career, relationships and family life.

The problem with excessive sweating is that it occurs irrespective of the weather, change in temperatures or time of the day. In fact if often picks the worst moment to appear such as job interviews, presentations or social events.

If you have primary hyperhidrosis which has occurred for no apparent reason then there are unlikely to be any serious health problems. But if you have secondary hyperhidrosis then this will need to be addressed as this type of excessive sweating is usually caused by a medical condition, for example diabetes. If this is left untreated then it can be potentially life threatening.

Speak to your GP if you are worried about the long term effects of excessive sweating.