Does Your Doctor Know You Have Hyperhidrosis?

By Angela Ballard, RN
IHhS Educator & Advocate

This Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month, we have a few questions for you: 

• Does your healthcare provider know you have hyperhidrosis? 
• Have you explained to them how much your extreme, uncontrollable sweating impacts your life, relationships, self-confidence, and mood? 
• Does your healthcare provider realize how much time and energy (mental as well as physical) you spend dealing with your sweating and all the hacks and over-the-counter supplies you’re using? 

Research shows that hyperhidrosis (Hh) is more common than melanoma, psoriasis, peanut allergies, green eyes, and red hair, but that 27% of adults with Hh are NEVER diagnosed and nearly half of Hh sufferers wait more than TEN years before seeking medical help (and 85% wait at least three years.)  

Similarly, science shows that only about half of the people suffering from hyperhidrosis have discussed their condition with any healthcare provider, either because they don’t realize excessive sweating is a medical condition or because they don’t believe that treatment options exist. But if you are a subscriber here, you know better. But what about the doctors and nurses in your life? 

Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month can and should be happening in your local doctor’s office. This can start with you making sure your healthcare provider knows about your hyperhidrosis and what an impactful part of your life it is. 

“People with excessive sweating should absolutely speak with their primary care doctor or a dermatologist about their condition; no one should suffer alone,” says Dr. David Pariser, Co-Founder and Secretary of the IHhS and a beloved world-renowned expert in hyperhidrosis. “Patients have safe, effective, and convenient treatment options available to them.”

IHhS Co-Founder and Board Member, Dr. Adelaide Hebert, a pediatric dermatologist with the University of Texas, adds: “Combating delay in treatment is of particular importance given the established association between hyperhidrosis and mental health concerns, particularly social anxiety and depression.”

We know that these are not easy conversations to have with anyone, let alone a busy healthcare provider, but remember, your providers want to succeed in caring for you. To help guide your conversation and prepare for an appointment about excessive sweating, we have this resource. 

Healthcare providers may also find these diagnosis guidelines helpful, and you can provide them with this short link (tinyurl.com/Help4Sweating) or a printout. 

To search for a healthcare provider who knows and understands hyperhidrosis, use our Clinician Finder and read these tips on choosing a healthcare provider. 

We have big-picture, global advocacy goals for Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month, but we also have individual treatment improvement goals for every person living day-to-day with Hh. Join us. 

You can raise Hh awareness among your healthcare providers in a meaningful way and we hope you’ll use the tools on SweatHelp.org to help you do that. 
Thanks for advocating for yourself and others by raising your voice this month.