Anhidrosis: Not being able to sweat is literally NOT COOL

What is the chemical formula for sweat? Relax, don’t sweat it. There’s no specific chemical formula for sweat, but it’s composed of several chemicals that do have formulas. Our body functions optimally if the temperature is around 37°C. If our bodies get hotter, the hypothalamus, the temperature centre in our brains, tells the rest of our body to calm down and stay cool. The essential way our bodies cool down is by sweating (perspiration). The control of sweat secretion is primarily through the sympathetic nervous system. It’s the body’s natural way of cooling down and regulating temperature.

The process of perspiration includes special glands found on our skin called sweat glands. Sweat glands are scattered all over your body but are most abundant on the palms of the hands, armpits, groin, and soles of the feet. They produce sweat which is made up of water and other chemicals like salts, sugar, and ammonia. The sweat leaves our skin through pores (tiny holes). When sweat is released on the surface of our skin and gets in contact with air, it evaporates. As this happens, our bodies eventually cool down. What’s the medical condition wherein our bodies can’t produce sweat?

Enter anhidrosis.

WHAT IS ANHIDROSIS? WHAT ARE ITS CAUSES?

Anhidrosis is a clinical sign or finding that means an inability to perspire or sweat. Strictly speaking, it’s not a specific medical condition or diagnosis. It’s part of a set of clues in diagnosing an actual medical condition. A similar sign to anhidrosis is hypohidrosis, which means a decrease in your body’s ability to sweat. The exact opposite of anhidrosis and hypohidrosis is hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, which is beyond the scope of this article. The age of presentation and incidence of anhidrosis will depend on the cause. Both males and females are equally affected, with a few exceptions, depending on the cause.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS CAUSES OF ANHIDROSIS. THEY CAN BE BROADLY CATEGORISED INTO THREE BIG GROUPS, NAMELY:

1. There's something wrong with the sweat glands themselves.

This list of causes is medically called peripheral alterations that cause anhidrosis. The sweat glands are physically damaged (acquired) or genetically abnormal (congenital or present since birth). The absence of sweating may be localised to one part of the body or generalised.

2. This list causes may also be termed central or neuropathic of anhidrosis

The what-went-wrong thing may be found anywhere from the hypothalamus in the brain, brainstem, spinal cord, and the nerves supplying the sweat glands. The surrounding tissues near the previously mentioned structures are usually involved and may cause damage.

Idiopathic

The exact cause can’t be determined or is unknown.

THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS SOME EXACT CAUSES OF ANHIDROSIS OR HYPOHIDROSIS IN EACH GROUP:

Note: The list is representative of well-known examples per category and is far from complete. There may be some overlap between the two categories (1 and 2), depending on the location, presentation, and level of involvement of anhidrosis.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU MAY HAVE ANHIDROSIS? KNOW THE CLUES.

1. Your inability to perspire or sweat all over your body during activities that usually make a person sweat may be the first clue that you have anhidrosis. The lack of sweating may also be limited to certain areas of your body. A discrepancy in the amount of sweating that occurs on different body parts is another clue. One area may sweat more than the other.
2. Other signs and symptoms include dizziness, flushing, weakness, the feeling of heat trapped inside the body, and muscle cramps. Difficulty in tolerating hot or warm environments may also be a sign that you have anhidrosis.
3. If you think you’re experiencing the signs and symptoms of anhidrosis, make an appointment with your doctor. If you’re experiencing signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion or stroke, ask or call somebody to take you to the nearest hospital for treatment.
4. Diagnosis of anhidrosis. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, specifically regarding your inability to perspire. You will also be asked to undertake a sweat test. A sweat or thermoregulatory test includes coating your body or a part of your body with a special powder (alizarin red). You’re then placed inside a chamber that raises your body temperature to produce sweat. The special powder changes colour from orange to purple when you sweat. Areas that don’t have a change in the colour of the powder are positive for anhidrosis.
5. Documenting the finding of anhidrosis is usually straightforward as opposed to finding out the cause, which may take more time, effort, and money.

Complications of anhidrosis

The greatest threat to life of severe anhidrosis is overheating because of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Treatment for Anhidrosis

1. The treatment for anhidrosis is directed towards its underlying cause.
2. If your inability to sweat is because of a medication you’re currently taking, the anhidrosis may be short-term if you stop taking the drug. But consult your doctor first before you stop taking any medication.
3. If the cause of your anhidrosis is unknown (idiopathic), management is limited to trying your best to stay away from conditions or situations that can lead to heat-related illnesses.
4. If there’s a cure or treatment for the underlying condition causing your anhidrosis, management is geared towards that condition.

ANY NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR ANHIDROSIS?

Currently, no approved and well-recognised natural treatments are available for anhidrosis. Home remedies like baking soda oral supplements, cucumber juice, and ginger supplements have not been proven to improve symptoms of anhidrosis. Claims that they’re able to improve symptoms have been based on anecdotal evidence. Cooling pads, cooling vests, and cold therapy may offer some relief when heat builds up and will cool you down to normal temperature faster. Consult your doctor first before trying out any natural treatment for anhidrosis.

Can Anhidrosis be prevented?

1. There’s no way to prevent anhidrosis. It’s not like hypertension or diabetes mellitus, where you can follow several steps to delay or avoid the development of these two diseases. You can do some things to prevent the most dreaded complications of anhidrosis (heat exhaustion and heat stroke).
2. Avoid residing in or visiting tropical countries. The warm climate all year round can make your body overheat and lead to complications. If you must go to a tropical country, choose the time of the year when it’s the least warm and make the necessary arrangements.

3. Do not do high-intensity and prolonged exercises. Avoid overexertion. People with anhidrosis aren’t allowed to go to saunas.
4. Keep your body hydrated with plenty of fluids, most importantly water. Don’t drink caffeine-containing drinks and alcohol. Always bring a water bottle with you. Ahem, the bottle should contain water, okay? You can drink the water to cool your body intermittently.
5. Stay in a well-ventilated area. An air-conditioned room is optimal for your condition.
6. Sunburn and heat rash are preventable causes of anhidrosis.
7. If you have psoriasis or atopic dermatitis, you have to manage the symptoms to prevent the development of anhidrosis. Also, keep your skin healthy.
8. Lessen alcohol consumption (or stop drinking) and sugar intake to prevent the development of nerve problems secondary to alcohol abuse and diabetes mellitus, respectively.
9. Inform your close friends, family, and co-workers about your condition. They’re usually the first to help you if your body overheats. Tell them what to do and who to contact.
10. As much as possible, learn how to lower your stress levels. Stress is unavoidable, but there are ways you can reduce and overcome it.
11. Long-term implications. What’s the prognosis for people with anhidrosis? Anhidrosis is often a chronic condition, and for some, it may be life-long. The exact outlook will depend on its underlying cause and if that cause can be treated or managed.
12. Risk factors. Some risk factors may predispose a person to develop anhidrosis. These include old age, diabetes mellitus, the presence of mutations in genes, and chronic skin conditions.

Anhidrosis is a symptom, clinical finding, or medical condition (if the cause is unknown) that needs to be taken seriously. Most of the time, it’s a chronic condition in which the cause must be determined as much as possible. Its treatment will depend on its cause. There’s no clear way to prevent anhidrosis, but a few of its causes are preventable. Its most dreaded complications are heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which warrant urgent medical care. If you think you may have anhidrosis, schedule a consultation with your doctor.