Causes of Excessive Sweating on the Hands
Disease description:
My hands sweat easily, and I often need to wipe them with toilet paper. Could you please explain why some people tend to have sweaty palms?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Renling
Excessive sweating of the hands (palmar hyperhidrosis) has multiple potential causes. It may be associated with autonomic nervous system dysfunction—particularly when emotional tension, anxiety, or excessive stress triggers overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increased hand sweating. Secondly, endocrine imbalances and hormonal disturbances are common contributors; for example, conditions such as hyperthyroidism can cause excessive palmar sweating. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), constitutional factors—including yin deficiency with internal heat or spleen deficiency with stomach heat—may also contribute to excessive hand sweating. Palmar hyperhidrosis, as a distinct clinical condition, results in abnormally increased hand sweating, which in severe cases can significantly impair daily functioning. For individuals experiencing excessive hand sweating, it is recommended to identify the underlying cause and implement targeted therapeutic interventions to alleviate this symptom.
