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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffAnhidrosis occurs when your sweat glands stop working, and this can happen for a number of reasons, including:
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Nerve damage. Your autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary actions such as digestion, heartbeat, blood pressure and body temperature. Injuries to your nerves that control this system can affect the functioning of your sweat glands.
Many illnesses can damage your autonomic nerves, including diabetes, alcoholism, Parkinson's disease, amyloidosis — a serious disease that occurs when substances called amyloid proteins build up in your organs — Sjogren's syndrome, which causes dry eyes and mouth, and small cell lung cancer. Anhidrosis is the hallmark of Ross syndrome, a peripheral nerve disorder.
Rare metabolic disorders, such as Fabry disease, also are associated with anhidrosis. Horner syndrome, which damages nerves in your face and eye, usually causes anhidrosis on the affected side of your face.
- Skin damage. Physical injury to your skin, especially from severe burns, can permanently damage your sweat glands.
- Certain medications. Many prescription medications — including some heart and blood pressure medications, bladder control drugs, nausea medications and psychiatric medications — can reduce sweating. Perspiration usually returns to normal when the medications are stopped. If you develop anhidrosis after starting a new medication, let your doctor know.
- Genetic factors. Some children have genetic disorders that cause sweat glands to malfunction. Others may have an inherited disorder called hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia that causes the body to develop with few if any sweat glands.
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Dehydration. This occurs when your body doesn't have enough fluids to carry out its normal functions. In the most serious cases, dehydration can interfere with your ability to sweat. Dehydration is common when you have an intense bout of diarrhea and vomiting, when you have a very high fever, or when you sweat excessively and don't replace lost fluids.
Dehydration can also occur when you have increased urination — often as a result of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus.
Alcohol and certain medications — diuretics, antihistamines, blood pressure medications and some psychiatric drugs — can cause dehydration as well.
- Fealey RD, et al. Disorders of the eccrine sweat glands and sweating. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2985825. Accessed Oct 8, 2009.
- No sweat? It's not always a dream come true. International Hyperhydrosis Society. http://www.sweatsolutions.org/SweatSolutions/Article.asp?ArticleCode=26497017&EditionCode=87373635. Accessed Oct. 9, 2009.
- More III JG. Disorders of the sweat glands. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/164330502-2/899438951/1608/1544.html. Accessed Oct. 8, 2009.
- Extreme heat: A prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp. Accessed Sept. 15, 2009.
- Saper CB. Autonomic disorders and their management. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier:2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/164330686-2/0/1492/1482.html?tocnode=5463. Accessed Oct. 8, 2009.
- Drugs/medications known to cause anhidrosis. International Hyperhydrosis Society. http://www.sweatsolutions.org/pdf/Anhidrosis.pdf. Accessed Oct. 9, 2009.
- Advice for older adults on staying safe in hot weather. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20080731hyperthermia.htm. Accessed Oct. 9, 2009.
- Zimmerman JL, et al. Hyperthermia. In: Hall JB, et al. Principles of Critical Care. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Professional; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2282701. Accessed July 7, 2009.
