MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Sweating

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Sweating - absent

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Considerations	Common Causes Home Care Call your health care provider if What to expect at your health care provider's office

Illustrations

Skin layers

Alternative names Return to top

Decreased sweating; Anhidrosis

Definition Return to top

Abnormal lack of sweat in response to heat.

Considerations Return to top

Anhidrosis sometimes goes unrecognized until a substantial amount of heat or exertion fails to cause sweating.

Overall lack of sweating can be life threatening because the body will overheat. If the lack of sweating is localized, it is usually not as dangerous.

Common Causes Return to top

neurologic disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
skin diseases that block sweat glands
congenital disorders including as ectodermal dysplasia
some drugs
trauma to sweat glands
burns
dehydration

Home Care Return to top

If there is a danger of overheating, take a cold shower or sit in a cool bathtub and drink plenty of fluids. Remain in a cool environment. Move slowly during hot weather. Avoid heavy exercise and hot foods.

Call your health care provider if Return to top

there is generalized lack of sweating (home care should be used while waiting to see the doctor).
there is any abnormal lack of sweating when exposed to heat or strenuous exercise.

What to expect at your health care provider's office Return to top

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed. In emergencies (where rapid cooling measures and fluid replacement will be initiated) the patient will be stabilized first.

Medical history questions documenting absent sweating in detail may include:

time pattern
- When did this begin?
- Has it been present since infancy or childhood?
location
- Is it only on one side of the forehead?
- Is it on the whole body?
other
- What other symptoms are also present?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

drugs administered to stimulate sweating
topical substance applied to the skin
the person may be placed in a sweat box for observation
the person may be wrapped in an electric blanket to observe sweat patterns
a skin biopsy may be performed

Update Date: 10/27/2003

Updated by: Jeffrey Drayer, M.D., Dermatologist, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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