How is this different from just sweating a lot?

Hyperhidrosis is considered when sweating occurs repeatedly in ways that are difficult to explain by a hot environment or exercise, and when it interferes with daily activities.

What is looked at from the perspective of heat and cold?

We examine the areas and times when sweating occurs, feelings of heat or cold, sleep, fatigue, and digestion to determine how Korean medicine treatment can help through pattern identification.

What is the difference between focal hyperhidrosis and generalized hyperhidrosis?

It is divided into cases where sweating appears symmetrically in specific areas, such as the hands, feet, or armpits, and cases where it has newly worsened across the entire body. If generalized sweating has suddenly increased, we first check for thyroid disease, infection, menopausal changes, or the effects of medication.

What information should I record?

Please note the areas where you sweat, whether it is worse during the day or night, if it is severe enough to require changing clothes, and if it is accompanied by palpitations, weight changes, or fever. Sweating severe enough to soak bedding during sleep is categorized and examined separately as night sweats.

Hyperhidrosis is evaluated based on the cause and disruption to daily life rather than the amount of sweat

Hyperhidrosis is a condition where sweating occurs repeatedly beyond what is necessary for heat or exercise, interfering with clothing, work, sleep, or the use of hands. The causes to be checked first differ between cases where it appears symmetrically in specific areas, such as the palms, soles, or armpits, and cases where it has newly started throughout the entire body.

Commonly confused terms and their differences: Sweating is a broad phenomenon that includes normal thermoregulation responses, whereas hyperhidrosis is a condition where excessive sweating affects daily life. Sweating is not explained by a single factor such as Korean medicine heat symptoms or autonomic nerve issues; instead, causes such as thyroid disease, hypoglycemia, infection, menopausal transition, or medication are distinguished through medical history and tests.
Information to record before your visit: Record the areas where you sweat, whether it is on both sides, the age of onset, the frequency per week, and whether it occurs during sleep. Also note the indoor temperature at the time, exercise, tension, meals, palpitations, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and any new medications. Recording how many times you had to change clothes or stop working makes it easier to explain the impact on your daily life.
Scope of this material: MedlinePlus materials were used to explain the normal function of sweat and the medical causes to be checked in hyperhidrosis. This page is not a tool for diagnosing the cause of hyperhidrosis, a method for suppressing sweat, or a criterion for choosing Korean herbal medicine directly. Medical evaluation is necessary if generalized sweating suddenly increases or if there is unexplained weight loss or persistent fever. Cold sweats accompanied by chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting require priority emergency evaluation.

Official References

Medical staff who wrote and reviewed this article

Choi Yeon-seung

Chief Director of Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic

The meaning of hyperhidrosis, the scope of differential diagnosis, and patient guidance expressions have been reviewed. The last review date was August 25, 2026.

Graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine
Providing Korean medicine treatment since 2010
Symptom treatment from the perspective of heat-cold balance and constitution

Check medical evaluation criteria for my symptoms View full profile

Check the guides where these terms are used

Symptom and Disease GuideHyperhidrosis

Symptom and Disease GuidePalmar and plantar hyperhidrosis

Symptom and Disease GuideCranial and facial hyperhidrosis

Heat and Cold ColumnNight sweats: sweating every night despite normal test results, why does this happen?

When night sweats recur even though no specific abnormalities were found in tests, we provide guidance on the criteria for night sweats, symptoms to re-examine, and the aspects considered in Korean medicine treatment.

Heat and Cold ColumnI sweat every night and feel heat in my body; what are the causes of night sweats?

We provide guidance on the Korean medicine perspective on the causes of night sweats and heat rising to the hands, feet, or face despite normal test results, as well as criteria for self-assessment.

Medical GuideHow do I distinguish between sweat on the hands, feet, armpits, face, or night sweats?

Sweating that has occurred symmetrically in specific areas such as the hands, feet, and armpits since childhood and decreases during sleep requires a different verification process than sweating that has recently developed across the whole body or at night. You should organize the affected areas, onset timing, sweating during sleep, medications being taken, and how it interferes with your daily life.

Medical GuideIf I have night sweats and changes in temperature sensation, is it an autonomic nervous system problem?

Changes in sweating and temperature sensation may be related to the autonomic nervous system, but that alone cannot confirm the cause. By reviewing the timing and location of sweating, throbbing, changes in weight and sleep, and test results to categorize the heat and cold patterns, we can find points where Korean medicine treatment can help.

Comparison of similar terms

Conditions requiring differential diagnosisAutonomic Nerves

The autonomic nervous system regulates sweat, heart rate, digestion, and the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. While it may be related to feelings of heat or cold, a 'problem with the autonomic nervous system' cannot be confirmed by symptoms alone.

Symptom ExpressionNight sweats

Night sweats are symptoms where a large amount of sweat occurs repeatedly during sleep. In addition to indoor temperature, factors such as infection, hormonal changes, medication, and thyroid problems must be checked.

Symptom ExpressionFeeling of heat

A feeling of heat is a symptom where you feel warmth in areas such as the face, chest, palms, or soles, regardless of the reading on a thermometer. The affected area, timing, and accompanying changes, such as redness, sweating, or numbness, serve as clues to categorize the cause.