The Three Causes of Hyperhidrosis
Stay current with key hyperhidrosis studies
The Three Causes of Hyperhidrosis
As per most things related to the human body, things are always more complicated than they appear. And so goes the cause, or more accurately causes of hyperhidrosis. A recent review study* points to multiple causes behind the excessive sweating condition. When 'googling' the cause of hyperhidrosis, an 'overactive' nervous stimulation of sweat glands is often cited as the cause of the condition. While this is true, two other causes need to be included as sources of excessive sweating.
More recently, researchers have identified a specific gene that is 'overexpressed' resulting in a greater production of aquaporin proteins. These proteins sit within sweat glands and are responsible for pumping water into sweat gland ducts. Another often forgotten cause is the greater number of acetylcholine receptors. Acetylcholine is a well known neurotransmitter that facilitates the travel of signals between nerve cells. Nerve signals are transmitted when acetylcholine binds to nerve cell surface receptors. A greater number of receptors on a nerve cell surface renders these cells more sensitive. Essentially, a greater number of acetylcholine receptors translates into a stronger nerve signal which in turn instructs glands to sweat more 'aggressively'.
Identifying the multiple causes of focal hyperhidrosis is particularly important to help researchers focus of multiple avenues as possible targets of therapy.
*Clin Auton Res. 2017 Dec;27(6):379-383
