Sweating - absent

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Skin layers

Overview

Treatment

Sweating - absent

Definition:

An abnormal lack of sweat in response to heat may be harmful, because sweating allows heat to be released from the body.

Alternative Names:

Decreased sweating; Anhidrosis

Considerations:

Anhidrosis sometimes goes unrecognized until a substantial amount of heat or exertion fails to cause sweating.

Overall lack of sweating can be life-threatening because the body will overheat. If the lack of sweating is localized (happening in a small area only), it is usually not as dangerous.

Common Causes:

Neurologic disorders such as Guillain-Barre syndrome
Skin diseases that block sweat glands
Congenital disorders including as ectodermal dysplasia
Some drugs
Trauma to sweat glands
Burns
Dehydration

Review Date: 7/22/2005
Reviewed By: Jonathan Kantor, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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