Sweating, as gross as it can be, is an essential bodily process meant to keep you from overheating. When your body notices you’re getting too hot — whether from a hard workout, a sweltering summer day or a fever when you have the flu — it produces sweat to take your temperature down.
“Sweat is mostly water and electrolytes, and as it’s evaporated, it cools the skin,” says Dr. Mary Alice Mina, a dermatologist in Atlanta.
While it’s healthy to sweat on occasion, certain patterns of sweating can signify potential health problems and serve as a red flag to see a medical provider. We talked to some experts about when sweating is a sign of an underlying health issue and when to see a doctor, according to dermatologists.
If you’re sweating more than usual
Excessive sweating (think soaking wet palms that keep you from shaking hands or armpits that soak your shirt after a short walk) can be a sign of a condition called hyperhidrosis, says dermatologist Dr. Kemunto Mokaya. “Most of the time, hyperhidrosis has no known cause and is benign, other than the annoyance of being excessively sweaty,” she says.
Sometimes, sweating a lot can be a symptom of something else going on in your body.
Certain medications can make you sweat more, including antidepressants, some diabetes medications, anti-nausea drugs and certain beta-blockers.
Age-related changes like puberty or menopause can increase sweating too. “Your hormonal fluctuation can make you feel very warm, and that causes sweating,” Mina says. Pregnancy, which usually results in weight gain, can also make people more susceptible to heating up and sweating.
Infections caused by bacteria or viruses, like COVID-19 or influenza, can trigger sweating. “Your immune system sends out an army of white blood cells, which increase inflammation when you’re sick,” says Mina. Inflammation can spike your body temperature, causing a fever and sometimes sweating.
If you’ve gained weight or have a larger body, you may notice more sweating too. “Extra body mass can keep the body warmer, resulting in higher temperature and more sweating,” says Mina. Hyperthyroidism can cause problems with temperature regulation (and therefore more sweat), while diabetes can damage nerves in sweat glands and cause extra moisture.
In some cases, extra sweating can also be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as lymphoma — but Mina says people usually experience other symptoms too, and the sweating is usually persistent, severe and wakes people up at night. “It’s more than just ‘We need to turn the air down,’” she says.
If you’re sweating a lot in certain spots
Notice extra sweat, but only in particular areas of your body? Most cases of hyperhidrosis are localized, which means people tend to sweat more in specific areas. Most common are the palms, the soles of the feet, the underarms or the face. “This happens when sweat glands in those particular areas are overactive, so they produce more sweat than needed for temperature regulation,” Mokaya says.
Sweating more in certain spots can also be tied to body size. If you’ve gained weight or you’re pregnant, you may notice more sweating in skin folds than on other parts of your body, simply because those areas get warmer and your body wants to cool them off.
If your sweat smells stinkier
Most of your sweat glands don’t smell, but the ones that developed around puberty, like your armpits and groin, tend to be oilier, which can be more odiferous. You may also notice smellier sweat in areas with hair, which can trap oil and germs. When your glands secrete sweat and mix with bacteria, they can produce the sulfury, onion-y smell we call BO. “That’s why we wear antiperspirants and deodorants,” Mina says.
Sweat might smell more than usual on skin folds, which can trap bacteria. Mina recommends washing these areas frequently and drying them thoroughly to avoid accumulated (and potentially smelly) moisture and bacteria. Some foods and drinks, such as alcohol or asparagus, can also cause sweat to come through the pores smelling ranker than normal.
No matter where you have smelly sweat, it’s a good idea to shower more frequently and potentially use an antibacterial soap on the stinky areas.
If you notice changes in your sweat patterns
If your sweat patterns are changing and you’re concerned, it may be time to see a medical provider who can help you determine and treat the cause. Dermatologists can recommend prescription antiperspirants or even inject Botox for excessive sweating. If your sweating is due to another medical issue, then your primary care doctor or dermatologist may refer you to another provider who can help.
If you’re just bummed out about sweat in general, we get it — but keep in mind that you’re in good company, and that your body is doing you a favor by keeping you cool. “Sweating isn’t a problem unless it negatively impacts your life,” says Mina.