Explore surprising stats on sweating. From hyperhidrosis facts to global trends, learn what the numbers reveal about excessive sweat and its impact.
Dec 16, 2024
Written by
Angela Myers
16 million Americans (4.8% of the population) live with excessive sweat.
Of those 16 million, over 70 % report severe sweating in one or more parts of the body.
60% of those who sweat excessively say it impacts their overall health
All of us sweat, thanks to the two to four million sweat glands in the human body. A large portion of these sweat glands are found in the hands, feet, face, scalp, and armpits. And that sweat is made of 99% water while the other 1% is salt.
Most of those two to four million sweat glands fall into one of two main categories:
Eccrine glands: Involved in thermoregulation
Apocrine glands: Respond to stimulation from the brain, such as emotions
The average person produces 0.5 to one liter of sweat daily, though we can produce up to four liters per hour in extremely warm environments. If asked why we sweat, physical movement or increased body temperature due to warm weather probably come to mind. Yet, over half (500 to 750 mL) of that daily sweat rate stems from emotions, like fear or stress.
While we all sweat, some of us do so more than others. Hyperhidrosis, a medical condition where someone experiences excessive sweating for six or more months, impacts around 4.8% of the US population. This number is a low estimate, since around 73% of cases remain undiagnosed.
People with hyperhidrosis produce four to five times more sweat than the average person. But not all cases of hyperhidrosis are the same. There are four main categories of hyperhidrosis:
Generalized: When someone sweats everywhere
Focal: When someone sweats in a one or few distinct places
Primary: When there is no direct cause for sweating
Secondary: When there is a direct cause for sweating, such as menopause or specific medication
You can also mix and match these terms (i.e. primary generalized hyperhidrosis or secondary focal hyperhidrosis). While all types are prevalent, 93% are primary focal hyperhidrosis, aka sweating that’s concentrated in one part of the body and doesn’t have a direct cause.
The most common places to experience focal hyperhidrosis are:
Axillary sweat: The most common type of focal hyperhidrosis, axillary hyperhidrosis occurs in the underarms. 50% of cases are axillary.
Palmar sweat: When sweat occurs in hair follicles and sweat pores in the hands. About 25% of cases are palmar hyperhidrosis.
Plantar sweat: Accounting for 30% of cases, plantar hyperhidrosis is when regional sweat occurs in the feet.
Craniofacial sweat: The least common type, craniofacial hyperhidrosis occurs when excess swearing is focused in the face or scalp. It accounts for 20% of cases.
If you’re really good at math, you may have realized those numbers up to 125%, not 100%. That’s because it’s possible to have multiple regional sweat areas, like the underarms and feet or hands and scalp. Those with axillary hyperhidrosis are the most likely to have another form. 81% have three or more sites affected and 46% have four or more.
The exact cause of primary hyperhidrosis is unknown. That said, we do have some insight into diagnosis demographics:
Men are 20% more likely to experience excessive sweating.
The median age of diagnosis for primary hyperhidrosis is 25 years.
Those between the ages of 25 and 64 are most likely to experience hyperhidrosis.
It’s less common in folks over 65 and in children, affecting only 0.5–0.7 % of those under 12.
30-50% of diagnoses have a genetic component.
The rumors are true: We sweat more in hot climates—and lose more sodium when in them too. If somewhere hot, expect to lose 4.8 and 6 grams of sodium in ten hours. The sweat rate also tends to be higher immediately after we arrive in a hot environment or when there’s a heat wave; our apocrine and eccrine glands take ten days to acclimate to warmer temperatures.
Whether a climate is dry or humid also plays a role in how we sweat. Sweat efficiency is worse in humid regions, meaning sweat sticks to the body more. In dry regions, it evaporates faster.
Despite these differences, the environment actually doesn’t influence the prevalence of hyperhidrosis; 65% of patients report their sweat bothers them equally during the year. Plus, hyperhidrosis doesn’t discriminate based on your passport:
4.8% in the United States
4.6 % in Germany
5.5 % in Sweden
12.3 % in Canada (study in Vancouver only)
12.8 % in Japan
14.5 % in China (study in Shanghai only)
Those of Southeast Asian, Japanese, or Chinese descent may be more likely to be diagnosed with excessive sweating, though there’s limited research to support this finding.
While the cause of hyperhidrosis is unknown, there are some clear triggers for primary hyperhidrosis:
Stress
Anxiety
Pain
Fear
Sexual arousal
Spicy food
Temperature
Physical activity
Of those triggers, exercise and extreme heat cause us to lose the most water (two to four liters per hour). However, stress sweat may be the most common. 71% of people report noticeable sweating in high-stress scenarios (e.g., public speaking or exams).
Those who don’t experience excessive sweating have a tendency to write hyperhidrosis off as “just sweat.” In reality, it has tangible impacts on all aspects of someone’s health.
In fact, hyperhidrosis has a greater impact on quality of life than many other chronic conditions, including Darier’s disease, Hailey-Hailey disease, vitiligo, chronic pruritus, severe acne, and psoriasis.
85% of people experience embarrassment due to excessive sweating
75% of sufferers report significant psychological effects.
About 5% of those with hyperhidrosis take antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications specifically due to excessive sweating.
57% report reduced social confidence, leading to avoidance of activities like handshakes or public speaking.
About 71% of those with hyperhidrosis report social anxiety.
Those with hyperhidrosis are more likely to have anxiety (21.3% vs 7.5% of the general population) and depression (27.2% vs 9.7%)
Hyperhidrosis increases the risk of skin infections by 300%.
60% experience negative impacts on their overall health.
40% experience physical discomfort.
35% of those with hyperhidrosis report sacrificing important things due to this condition. Often, social life, career opportunities, and daily productivity fall onto that list of important things.
75% say hyperhidrosis has a negative impact on their social life, either due to sweating or body odor.
77% of people with hyperhidrosis avoid situations like handshakes or public speaking as they can cause stress sweat.
61.2% of participants in one trial viewed those who didn’t sweat as more confident and attractive.
63% say hyperhidrosis interferes with their ability to work.
Those with palmar hyperhidrosis experience a 7.2% decrease in annual productivity.
20% of hyperhidrosis sufferers experience issues with using everyday technology, such as a computer keyboard, phone, or touch screen, due to excessive sweating.
42% of those with hyperhidrosis say the diagnosis has stopped them from following a particular career path.
30% often feel frustrated with daily activities at work.
80% are upset with how excess sweat impacts their professional capabilities.
54% of those with hyperhidrosis would pay anything for a treatment to stop excessive sweating. That said, there aren’t super clear statistics on what people are actually paying for hyperhidrosis treatment.
What we do know the average price for popular hyperhidrosis treatments:
MiraDry treatment: Ranges from $2,000 to over $3,000 per session
Botox: $435 per injection
Surgery: $5,000-$10,000 on average
Oral medications: $8.86-$19.99 (an average based on a few popular medications)
Clinical strength antiperspirants: About $36 per year
And hyperhidrosis can create other expenses too, like higher laundry bills, stain removal costs, the need to buy clothing more often, and money spent on towels or materials to absorb sweat. In fact, those with hyperhidrosis spend $260 on average for more casual t-shirts and up to $1,200 on dress shirts.
When it comes to hyperhidrosis treatment, the numbers are a mixed bag. They’re quite bleak in regards to understanding and accessing treatment:
27% never receive a diagnosis. Among this group, 38.5% are unsure why they didn’t receive one.
47% of those with hyperhidrosis don’t believe treatment exists.
Only 49% have discussed their excessive sweating with a healthcare provider—and only 53% of that 49% are ever diagnosed.
85% wait three or more years to discuss excessive sweating with a healthcare provider, and 50% wait ten years.
The average wait time to see a specialist is 26 days.
Even when someone does see a specialist, such as a dermatologist, that provider isn't always familiar with hyperhidrosis, which decreases the likelihood of a diagnosis and effective treatment plan. To find a specialist who gets it, the International Hyperhidrosis society developed an international provider search tool.
The numbers on treatment effectiveness are much more promising:
Clinical-strength antiperspirants: Effective for 85% of mild cases, with effectiveness defined as 50% or more reduction in sweat.
Botox: 50-93% effective, depending on how effectiveness was measured. Those who receive botox experience improvement in as little as one week.
Oral Medications: Effective for 41-76% of cases, depending on the specific medication prescribed. However, 10.9% of participants in some clinical trials experienced side effects, so they stopped treatment. The most common side effects include dry mouth, impaired taste, dry eyes, blurred vision, and urinary retention.
miraDry: This treatment often leads to the permanent reduction of sweat glands; it has a 82% success rate.
Surgery: High success rates (about 75% to 80%) for severe cases but carries a risk of compensatory sweating. Other risks are possible, depending on the surgery type.
No matter the treatment type, an individual’s quality of life usually improves afterwards. In one study, complaints of excessive sweating completely disappeared for 12.9% of participants' cases, and an additional 81.7% of participants had significantly fewer complaints after treatment.
Overall, 77% of patients report a better quality of life after hyperhidrosis treatment. Access to a diagnosis and treatment can be a significant hurdle to overcome, but once someone finds the right option for them, treatment works.
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. Typically, this sweating occurs during the day, and someone with hyperhidrosis will sweat four to five times more than average.
Officially, hyperhidrosis impacts about 4.8% of the US population. However, over 73% of cases are underdiagnosed, meaning this condition could be more common than the official number.
There are two main types of hyperhidrosis, a medical condition that causes excessive sweating. The first is primary hyperhidrosis, when excessive sweating occurs without a direct cause. The other, secondary hyperhidrosis, is when there is a direct cause, such as menopause, Parkinson’s disease, or a medication.
Studies suggest that 30-50% of individuals with primary hyperhidrosis have a family history of the condition, indicating a strong genetic component.
The most common areas affected by hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating include:
Underarms (axillary)
Hands (palmar)
Feet (plantar)
Face/scalp (craniofacial)
Hyperhidrosis can lead to feelings of embarrassment due to excessive sweating in social situations. These feelings may lead to social withdrawal or isolation and are the reason hyperhidrosis is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression.
Common treatments include:
Antiperspirants
Botox injections
Iontophoresis
Oral medications and topical prescriptions
MiraDry
Surgeries
There is no permanent cure for hyperhidrosis, but many treatments effectively manage symptoms. Surgery offers long-term relief for some patients but comes with risks, like compensatory sweating.
Typically, dermatologists treat hyperhidrosis, but they aren’t the only healthcare providers who can. Nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants with training in dermatology, as well as primary care providers with knowledge of hyperhidrosis can play a role in treatment too.
Primary hyperhidrosis often begins in childhood or adolescence, with approximately 0.5-0.7% of cases starting before age 12.
Most insurance companies cover hyperhidrosis when there is an official diagnosis and treatment is deemed medically necessary. That said, all insurance policies work differently. Refer to your specific plan to determine if hyperhidrosis is covered.
Compensatory sweating occurs when an unrelated part of the body starts sweating to “make up” for the newfound lack of sweating. This usually happens after someone has surgery to remove sweat glands in a part of the body impacted by focal hyperhidrosis, such as the underarms or palms.
Hyperhidrosis treatments can show results within one week to one month. Popular treatment options include botox, iontophoresis, antiperspirants, oral medications, and surgery.
