Some Causes of Excessive Sweating
Type | Examples |
|---|---|
Cancer* | Lymphoma, leukemia, carcinoid tumors, some tumors of the adrenal glands |
Medications and substances | Antidepressants, aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some medications for diabetes, caffeine, and theophylline Withdrawal from opioids |
Hormonal (endocrine) disorders | An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), diabetes that affects the nerves, and certain pituitary gland disorders or use of medications that affect pituitary gland function |
Infections* | Tuberculosis, heart infection (endocarditis), and severe fungal infections affecting the entire body |
Nervous system disorders | Injuries (such as Frey syndrome†), dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, and some brain disorders |
Other‡ | Pregnancy Anxiety, excitement, anger, or fear Fever Heat exposure Sweating around the lips and mouth after eating hot, spicy foods (called gustatory sweating) Certain surgeries Unknown |
* These types primarily cause night sweats. | |
† Frey syndrome is a nervous system disorder that results from damage (caused by, for example, surgery or shingles) to the nerves that control the sweat glands for the salivary glands in the front of the ear. As a result, people sweat and have facial flushing while they eat. | |
‡ Some degree of sweating caused by these conditions can be normal. | |