People who sweat a lot are more prone to skin infections. This type of hyperhidrosis may cause sweating all over the body. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by an underlying medical condition or by taking certain medications, such as pain relievers, antidepressants, and some diabetes and hormonal medications. There is no medical cause for this type of hyperhidrosis. It usually affects the palms, soles, underarms and sometimes the face. Primary hyperhidrosis is caused by faulty nerve signals that trigger eccrine sweat glands to become overactive. Sweating also occurs, especially on your palms, when you're nervous. The nervous system automatically triggers sweat glands when your body temperature rises. Sweating is the body's mechanism to cool itself. Eccrine sweat glands are involved in hyperhidrosis, though apocrine glands may play a role as well. Apocrine glands develop in areas with many hair follicles, such as on the scalp, armpits and groin. Apocrine glands open into the hair follicle, leading to the surface of the skin. Eccrine sweat glands occur over most of the body and open directly onto the skin's surface.
