Anhidrosis

Diagnosis

Based on the signs and symptoms, medical history, and physical examination, a healthcare provider is likely to suspect anhidrosis. However, the patient might need certain testing to verify the diagnosis. These consist of:

• Sweat test: They are covered with a powder that changes color when and where they perspire during this test, also known as a thermoregulatory sweat test. The patient next enters a chamber where the temperature rises to a point where most people start to perspire. The results are captured in digital images, and the entire body surface can be examined simultaneously.
• Skin biopsy: A biopsy of the anhidrosis-suspected area may be requested in some circumstances by a healthcare provider. In order to perform this test, skin cells and sweat glands are extracted and examined under a microscope.

Treatment

In most cases, anhidrosis that just affects a small portion of the body is not problematic and doesn’t require treatment. Large patches of decreased sweating, however, can be fatal. The medical condition that is causing the anhidrosis may affect the treatments. For instance, if a medicine is the cause of the problem, try to stop taking it. Cleaning the skin with a mild exfoliant could be beneficial if blocked sweat ducts are the cause of the problem.

If a medicine is the source of the anhidrosis, stopping the prescription may help. Do not stop the medication without first talking to their healthcare provider. Anhidrosis may be curable if a medical disease is the root of it. Anhidrosis treatment may be confined to avoiding circumstances where a lack of sweating results in a health issue, such as heat illness, if no other underlying medical condition is detected.