多汗症 · Hyperhidrosis
For hyperhidrosis involving recurring sweat in the hands, feet, armpits, or the entire body, we categorize it by onset time, affected area, night sweats, and accompanying symptoms, and explain the heat-cold pattern identification and criteria for Korean herbal medicine treatment.
What to check first
We identify when the symptoms began, situations that worsen them, and any accompanying discomfort.
What to distinguish together
We narrow down the possibilities by comparing similar-looking conditions with previous test results.
What to look for on this page
We provide guidance on major patterns, differential criteria, and the sequence of confirmation during the medical evaluation.
General tests look for causes that can increase sweating, such as thyroid function, blood glucose, or medications. While these symptoms may not have a dangerous cause, they may be a pattern where body temperature regulation and tension responses are easily triggered, which we examine through pattern identification.
Korean medicine diagnosis looks at a different layer than hospital tests: it is not superior, but a different perspective.
Key information at a glance
- First, we distinguish between long-term localized sweating and recently started whole-body or night sweats
- Pattern identification is categorized into sweat from leaking energy, sweat from rising internal heat, and sweat from accumulated damp-heat
- Rather than the amount of sweat, we look at the life situations you have avoided and the recovery time as the primary criteria
We look beyond the tests to identify the root cause of your specific case.
Overview
HyperhidrosisHyperhidrosis is not simply a state of feeling the heat more than others, but a symptom where recurring sweat beyond the necessary range changes your daily life. If your palms make paper and phones wet, if you choose clothing colors based on armpit stains, or if you have to change your socks several times because your feet are wet, your functional daily life is already a more important clinical clue than the amount of sweat.
First, we distinguish between sweat that has recurred symmetrically in specific areas like the hands, feet, or armpits since childhood, and sweat that suddenly appeared across the whole body and continues after falling asleep. For the latter, other causes such as thyroid function, blood glucose, infection, hormonal changes, or medications must be checked first. If there are no dangerous causes but sweat is easily triggered and takes a long time to subside depending on tension, lack of sleep, diet, or heat, we examine the overall body temperature regulation response.
Different types of the same symptom
Type where energy leaks easily (氣虛不固)
Even with slight movement Cold sweatsit is a pattern of sweating, tiring easily, and catching colds frequently. Rather than simply cooling the sweat, we look toward reinforcing the strength to protect and recover the body surface.
Type where internal dryness and heat rise (陰虛內熱)
In the afternoon and at night Heat sensation·Dry mouth·This pattern involves overlapping poor sleep and night sweats. The focus is on supplementing deficient body fluids while calming agitated heat.
Type with accumulated dampness and heat (濕熱鬱蒸)
This pattern is characterized by sticky sweat with a strong odor, a feeling of heaviness in the body, and excessive oiliness on the face or scalp. We regulate the flow to clear damp-heat while monitoring digestion and bowel movements.
Type where heat surges upward during tension (心肝火旺)
In situations involving presentations, conversations, or intense concentration, sweating on the face and hands suddenly increases, overlapping with palpitations and poor sleep. We regulate both the pattern of rapid tension signals and the recovery speed.
Common Misconceptions
Excessive sweating means toxins are leaving the body
Repeated excessive sweating can lead to skin irritation, dehydration, and avoidance of daily activities. The amount, affected areas, and onset timing must be evaluated.
It is enough to just avoid tension
While tension can be a trigger, it does not explain all cases of focal hyperhidrosis starting from childhood or secondary generalized sweating.
It is enough to just lower the heat
The type that tires easily and has cold sweats is not approached in the same way as the type where internal heat rises at night.
Points to verify even if symptoms seem similar
Primary focal hyperhidrosis
This typically begins at a relatively early age, occurs symmetrically on the hands, feet, armpits, or face, and often decreases after falling asleep.
Secondary generalized sweating
This has started recently, persists across the whole body and during the night, and may overlap with weight changes, fever, palpitations, or changes in medication.
Hypoglycemic cold sweat
If tremors, dizziness, hunger, and confusion occur together on an empty stomach, evaluating blood glucose levels at the time of symptoms is the priority.
Sweating related to Hyperthyroidism
If heat sensitivity, throbbing, hand tremors, and unexplained weight loss overlap, a thyroid evaluation is necessary.
How this is evaluated during a medical consultation
During the consultation, we first ask about the age of onset, the affected area, whether it is symmetrical on both sides, night sweats, family history, and current medications. The frequency of changing clothes or socks, activities you have avoided, and the time it takes to calm down after sweating also serve as practical benchmarks to compare before and after treatment.
For sudden systemic sweating or recurring night sweats that have appeared recently, we first recommend evaluating the cause through blood tests or other means depending on accompanying symptoms. If cold sweats occur along with chest pain, difficulty breathing, or a feeling of fainting, immediate evaluation takes priority over heat-cold consultations. For chronic sweating that persists thereafter, we determine the direction of the herbal medicine prescription by using pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, and patient interviews to distinguish whether heat is rising, whether energy and fluids are deficient, or whether damp-heat has accumulated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hyperhidrosis
If someone sweats a lot, does that mean they have a constitution with too much heat?
No. While some sweating is accompanied by facial flushing and severe thirst, there is also sweating where one tires easily, experiences cold sweats, or feels a loss of energy after falling asleep. The affected area, timing, and accompanying symptoms must be shared together.
Can I consider herbal medicine treatment even if my test results are normal?
If secondary causes such as thyroid issues, blood glucose, or medications have been ruled out, but localized sweating persists for a long time and interferes with daily life, you may consult about herbal medicine treatment that examines the branches of temperature regulation and tension responses.
What should I record before the consultation?
It is helpful to note the age of onset, the area where you sweat and whether it is symmetrical, whether it occurs after falling asleep, activities you have come to avoid, and any changes in medications.
From the perspective of heat and cold, this is viewed as a process where the causes of heat accumulation build up.
- Accumulation of causes that lead to heat concentration
- The body's regulatory functions cannot keep up
- This is seen as manifesting through symptoms such as upward heat or dryness
The process of verification during medical evaluation
Now, we verify when and how your symptoms change
Since the way discomfort manifests can differ even within the same diagnosis, we review existing test results alongside the progression of symptoms.
Pattern Identification (Byeon-jeung)
Symptoms are verified in detail through pulse diagnosis and medical interview
We use pulse diagnosis and patient interviews to identify heat syndrome tendencies and accompanying patterns, then explain the approach best suited to your current condition.
The prescription direction is determined, and changes after administration are verified
Based on the findings from the medical interview and examination, the prescription direction is explained, and the same director oversees everything from preparation to the changes after administration.
Medical and Content Review Baekrokdam's medical standards
Hyperhidrosis: Listening to the progression before the name
We check the timing and area where the feeling of heat begins, along with changes in sweating, thirst, sleep, and nervousness. Even with the same diagnosis, the way the body produces and distributes heat varies; therefore, the categories identified through pulse, tongue, and patient interviews are linked to the Korean herbal medicine prescription and progress monitoring.
"For discomfort that cannot be explained by test results alone, we trace back through the symptoms starting from when they first began."
- Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
- Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic
Before Your Consultation
Please make a note of the time when heat rises, its relationship with meals, sleep, and nervousness, as well as any recent tests and medications you are taking.
During Your First Visit
Rather than concluding with a single symptom name, we categorize the onset, aggravating factors, and accompanying symptoms based on the patterns of cold and heat.
Once Treatment Begins
Prescriptions are adjusted based not only on the intensity of discomfort but also on the frequency, recovery time, and changes observed in your daily life.