• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 

3

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

1

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI

2

Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 

3

The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
HealthPersonal Health, Fitness, and Wellness

Are you sweating too much? A dermatologist says you should ask yourself these 4 questions

By
Alexa Mikhail
Alexa Mikhail
Senior Reporter, Fortune Well
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Alexa Mikhail
Alexa Mikhail
Senior Reporter, Fortune Well
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 26, 2024, 6:00 AM ET
Sweating is normal, but there are ways to treat excessive sweating that negatively affects daily life.
Sweating is normal, but there are ways to treat excessive sweating that negatively affects daily life. demaerre via Getty

Sufferers know the struggle well: a dripping forehead before an important event, damp armpits the second the morning commute starts, or wet palms right before a major business meeting handshake. 

Recommended Video

Sweating is a regular part of life, but not all sweaters are created equal. In particular settings, some people sweat much more than they should and definitely more than they want to. While many people can stay relatively dry, even in hot and stressful situations, others may have genetic conditions or underlying causes that cause them to sweat excessively. 

Fortune spoke with Dr. Maral Skelsey, clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center and director of the Dermatologic Surgery Center of Washington, who says there is a “Goldilocks of sweating,” or a normal range in which most people fall. She also breaks down what questions to ask yourself if you suspect you might be on the far end of the sweating spectrum—and what you can do to alleviate the worst symptoms. 

“It’s really an under-recognized problem,” she tells Fortune.

What is excessive sweating?

Sweating, our bodily secretion of water and salt, helps regulate our body temperature, especially when someone is physically active or experiencing hot temperatures. Feeling stressed, which increases our heart rate and blood pressure, can also trigger our glands to produce sweat, which is why we tend to sweat before a competition or presentation. 

However, some people are prone to sweat more than others and in settings that don’t require the body to cool down. Hyperhidrosis is the pathological condition of excessive sweating, which is defined as sweating more than necessary to regulate your body temperature, according to the Cleveland Clinic.  

“These are people who sweat so much they have to change their clothes multiple times a day,” Skelsey says. “A child might not be able to hold handlebars on a bicycle or hold crayons without everything getting smeared.”

Common symptoms of hyperhidrosis include frequently feeling beads of sweat on your skin, having damp clothes, and sometimes, excessive body odor. Primary hyperhidrosis can be genetic and often affects a particular part of the body, usually the armpits, feet, face, back, and hands. Secondary hyperhidrosis typically presents after age 25—often at night and affecting the whole body—and is caused by an underlying condition, such as Parkinson’s, menopause, thyroid problems, and diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

How do you know if you’re sweating too much? 

Skelsey says you can ask yourself a few key questions to determine if you’re sweating too much and figure out the best course of action to address it.

First, where are you sweating? If the palms of your hands and soles of your feet are sweating to the extent that you’re slipping, you’re probably sweating too much, Skelsey says. 

“Is sweating impairing your daily activity? Are you thinking about not going to a social event or not dating because you don’t want someone to hold your hand?” Skelsey says. If you answer yes, those are signs that something is off.

And finally, are you sweating in an environment that doesn’t align with needing to cool down?  “New York’s hot in the summer. Subways are crowded. There’s a lot of people in a subway car. It’s a pretty physiologic response,” she says. But pay careful attention to the environment you’re in and if the sweat matches the circumstances. “If you’re in a restaurant where it’s 68 degrees and you’re the only person sweating, there is a disconnect within the environment,” she says. 

What can you do if you’re sweating too much? 

It’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist who can help manage excessive sweating or treat the condition causing it. Whether you’re diagnosed with hyperhidrosis or not, there are ways to address a level of sweating that makes you uncomfortable. 

“There’s ways to help reduce your physiologic sweating so that it’s not affecting your professional or social life,” Swelsey says. 

Simple things to do include carrying around a personal fan, wearing lighter clothes, and applying deodorant daily. You can also wear a prescribed, clinical-strength antiperspirant at night on dry skin along with a deodorant during the day, Skelsey says. The antiperspirant doesn’t only have to go on your armpits. It can be applied to other highly sweaty areas like your back, for example. 

Dermatologists may also recommend anticholinergic agents, a set of medications that block a neurotransmitter responsible for sweating, and glycopyrronium wipes, a topical treatment for underarm sweating. The FDA has also approved Botox to treat excessive sweating, and in the most extreme cases, there are surgical interventions like sweat gland removal. 

However, Skelsey warns medications that decrease sweating have side effects like dry eyes and mouth, and that a medical provider must ensure the benefits outweigh the costs. 

The bottom line? While sweating is normal, excessive sweating may have deeper underlying causes. But there are ways to manage the condition to make sure that you can still live your best life.  

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Alexa MikhailSenior Reporter, Fortune Well
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Alexa Mikhail is a former senior health and wellness reporter for Fortune Well, covering longevity, aging, caregiving, workplace wellness, and mental health.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Health

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Health

WHO declares latest Ebola outbreak a global health emergency. A rare variant of the disease with no approved treatments is to blame
HealthHealth
WHO declares latest Ebola outbreak a global health emergency. A rare variant of the disease with no approved treatments is to blame
By Chinedu Asadu and The Associated PressMay 17, 2026
4 hours ago
hoeg
HealthFDA
RFK ally confirms she was fired by FDA: ‘I learned so much and leave with no regrets’
By Matthew Perrone and The Associated PressMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
lawyer
CommentaryLaw
Would you hire the lawyer who just got sanctioned for using AI?
By Alexandra SmythMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
lori
Commentarymental health
I run Valvoline Instant Oil Change and work with young people every day. They’re in crisis—and we all have to try to help
By Lori FleesMay 15, 2026
2 days ago
Claude is telling users to go to sleep mid-session and nobody, including Anthropic, seems to fully understand why it keeps doing it
AITech
Claude is telling users to go to sleep mid-session and nobody, including Anthropic, seems to fully understand why it keeps doing it
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 14, 2026
3 days ago
Nonprofit CEOs say Trump’s economy is driving surging demand—and they’re pushed to the brink
Future of Workphilanthropy
Nonprofit CEOs say Trump’s economy is driving surging demand—and they’re pushed to the brink
By Sydney LakeMay 14, 2026
3 days ago

Most Popular

Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
AI
Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months—for all white-collar work to be automated by AI
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
Politics
Former top Russian official admits the country is over Putin and can 'imagine a future without him' — even elites bail as Kremlin seizes their assets 
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
23 hours ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
5 days ago
SpaceX heads into a record-shattering IPO with the 'deepest moat that exists today' as investors vow to 'never bet against Elon'
Innovation
SpaceX heads into a record-shattering IPO with the 'deepest moat that exists today' as investors vow to 'never bet against Elon'
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
Oil markets could be a month away from the moment of truth. Brace for a 'non-linear' price spike and panic buying, analysts warn
Energy
Oil markets could be a month away from the moment of truth. Brace for a 'non-linear' price spike and panic buying, analysts warn
By Jason MaMay 16, 2026
1 day ago
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
Future of Work
Meet the 20-year-old CEO who launched a company in high school to solve Gen Z's entry-level job crisis
By Jake AngeloMay 16, 2026
2 days ago