Sweating without a trigger
Heavy sweat with no heat or exertion to explain it.
Medical Dermatology
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
Sweating far beyond what your body needs — soaking through shirts or dripping hands — is a real, common medical condition called hyperhidrosis, and it's very treatable.
Overview
Understanding hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating that isn't tied to heat or exercise. It happens when the body's eccrine sweat glands are overactive, and it most commonly affects the underarms, palms, soles of the feet, and face or scalp. It can be genuinely disruptive — socially, professionally, and emotionally — and it affects roughly one in twenty people, so you are far from alone.
No one should have to just live with it. A dermatologist can confirm the type of sweating you have and offer a range of effective treatments — from prescription antiperspirants and topical wipes to Botox® injections and oral medication — matched to which areas bother you most and how much it's affecting your life.
The two types of hyperhidrosis — and why the difference matters
Identifying the type guides both the workup and the treatment, so it's the first thing we sort out:
- Primary focal hyperhidrosis is the most common type: excessive sweating in specific areas (underarms, palms, soles, face), usually on both sides, often starting in childhood or the teens, frequently runs in families, and typically stops during sleep.
- Secondary hyperhidrosis is sweating caused by an underlying condition or a medication — it's often more widespread and can happen during sleep.
- Night sweats or sudden, generalized, whole-body sweating are important clues that point toward the secondary type and deserve a medical evaluation.
- Sorting out which type you have makes sure we treat the sweating and don't miss anything else going on.
It's a real medical condition — not just 'sweating a lot'
Hyperhidrosis is common and treatable, and there's no reason to tough it out:
- It affects roughly 4.8% of people — many since adolescence — yet most never seek treatment.
- Beyond the discomfort, persistent moisture can lead to odor, skin irritation, and repeat skin infections.
- It takes a real toll — avoiding handshakes, hiding sweat marks, changing shirts, or steering clear of certain activities.
- Effective, well-established treatments exist for every affected area — the hard part is just knowing to ask.
The same neuromodulators used in our aesthetic dermatology practice (Botox®, Dysport®) are highly effective for underarm and palm sweating — delivered here with dermatologist precision.
Signs & symptoms
What we look for
Soaked clothing
Visible underarm sweat that ruins shirts despite antiperspirant.
Clammy or dripping hands
Palms so damp they make gripping, writing, or handshakes difficult.
Sweaty feet
Soles that keep socks and shoes wet, with odor or peeling skin.
Facial & scalp sweating
Beads of sweat on the face or scalp at rest, unrelated to heat.
Impact on daily life
Avoiding handshakes, certain clothes, or activities because of sweat.
How we treat it
Your treatment options
We match the treatment to the area and severity — there are more effective options than most people expect, and most patients get real relief.
Prescription antiperspirants
Clinical-strength (aluminum chloride) antiperspirants — an effective, low-cost first step for many patients.
Qbrexza® (glycopyrronium) wipes
A once-daily FDA-approved topical anticholinergic wipe that reduces underarm sweat at its source.
Botox® / Dysport® injections
Neuromodulator injections temporarily block the nerve signals that switch on sweat glands — FDA-approved for underarms and highly effective for palms and other focal areas, with results lasting several months.
Oral medication
Prescription anticholinergics such as glycopyrrolate reduce sweating body-wide — useful for multiple areas or generalized sweating, for appropriate patients.
Area-specific plan
Treatment tailored to underarms, hands, feet, or face — matched to what bothers you most, often combining approaches for the best result.
When to see a dermatologist
If sweating is interfering with your clothing, confidence, or daily activities — and antiperspirants aren't enough — there are effective treatments worth discussing. Sweating that comes on suddenly, is widespread over your body, or happens at night should be evaluated, since it can point to an underlying cause.
Schedule with JuniperCommon questions
Hyperhidrosis FAQ
What areas can hyperhidrosis treatment help?
We treat excessive sweating of the underarms (axillary), hands (palmar), feet (plantar), and face or scalp (craniofacial), matching the treatment to the area and severity.
What causes excessive sweating?
Most cases are primary focal hyperhidrosis — overactive sweat glands driven by faulty nerve signals, often inherited, with no underlying illness. Less commonly, sweating is 'secondary' to another condition or a medication, which is why widespread or nighttime sweating should be evaluated by a dermatologist.
How do Botox injections stop sweating?
Targeted botulinum toxin injections temporarily block the nerve signals that activate sweat glands, dramatically reducing sweat in the treated area for several months. It's FDA-approved for underarm sweating and widely used for sweaty palms and other focal areas.
What if antiperspirants haven't worked?
There are more options than most people expect — prescription-strength antiperspirants, Qbrexza® topical wipes, Botox® injections, and oral medication for appropriate patients. A dermatologist builds a plan around the areas that bother you most, and most patients get meaningful relief.
Is hyperhidrosis dangerous?
Primary hyperhidrosis isn't dangerous, but it can seriously affect quality of life and lead to skin irritation and infections. Sweating that is sudden, generalized, or happens at night can occasionally signal an underlying condition, so it's worth a professional evaluation.
Bend & Redmond · Central Oregon
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