Editing Hyperhidrosis (section)

==Classification==
[[File:Visual scale for the quantification of hyperidrosis.tif|thumb|upright=1.4|Visual scale for the quantification of hyperhidrosis]]

Hyperhidrosis can either be ''generalized'', or ''localized'' to specific parts of the body. Hands, feet, armpits, groin, and the facial area are among the most active regions of perspiration due to the high number of [[sweat gland]]s ([[Eccrine sweat gland|eccrine glands]] in particular) in these areas. When excessive sweating is localized (e.g. palms, soles, face, underarms, scalp) it is referred to as ''primary'' hyperhidrosis or [[focal hyperhidrosis]]. Excessive sweating involving the whole body is termed ''generalized'' hyperhidrosis or secondary hyperhidrosis. It is usually the result of some other, underlying condition.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

Primary or ''focal'' hyperhidrosis may be further divided by the area affected, for instance, palmoplantar hyperhidrosis (symptomatic sweating of only the hands or feet) or [[gustatory hyperhidrosis]] (sweating of the face or chest a few moments after eating certain foods).<ref name="Andrews" />

Hyperhidrosis can also be classified by onset, either congenital (present at birth) or acquired (beginning later in life). Primary or [[focal hyperhidrosis]] usually starts during adolescence or even earlier and seems to be inherited as an [[autosomal]] dominant genetic trait.<!-- details per OMIM link in info box--> It must be distinguished from ''secondary'' hyperhidrosis, which can start at any point in life, but usually presents itself after 25 years of age. Secondary hyperhidrosis commonly accompanies conditions such as diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, hyperthyroidism, hyperpituitarism, anxiety disorder, pheochromocytoma, and menopause.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Walling|first1=Hobart W. |title=Clinical differentiation of primary from secondary hyperhidrosis |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology |date=April 2011 |volume=64 |issue=4 |pages=690–695 |doi=10.1016/j.jaad.2010.03.013 |pmid=21334095}}</ref>

One classification scheme uses the amount of skin affected.<ref name="Fitz2">{{cite book |editor1-first=Irwin M. |editor1-last=Freedberg |editor2-first=Arthur Z. |editor2-last=Eisen |editor3-first=Klaus |editor3-last=Wolff |editor4-first=K. Frank |editor4-last=Austen |editor5-first=Lowell A. |editor5-last=Goldsmith |editor6-first=Stephen I. |editor6-last=Katz |year=2003 |title=Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine |edition=6th |publisher=[[McGraw Hill Education|McGraw-Hill]] |page=700 |isbn=978-0-07-138066-9}}</ref> In this scheme, excessive sweating in an area of {{cvt|100|cm2|in2|lk=on}} or more is differentiated from sweating that affects only a small area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Types of Hyperhidrosis |url=https://sweathelp.org/home/types-of-hyperhidrosis.html |publisher=International Hyperhidrosis Society}} {{MEDRS|date=March 2024}}</ref>

Another classification scheme is based on possible causes of hyperhidrosis.{{fact|date=March 2024}}