Primary focal hyperhidrosis: disease characteristics and functional impairment.

BACKGROUND There are few published data on the clinical characteristics of hyperhidrosis. OBJECTIVE To describe the functional impairment caused by primary focal hyperhidrosis. METHODS Patients with hyperhidrosis (n = 345) were enrolled at the Department of Dermatology, University of Würzburg. Controls (n = 154) were a convenience sample of subjects without hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis characteristics, health-related quality of life and functional impairment were assessed. RESULTS Patients with axillary hyperhidrosis reported a later age at onset and a higher prevalence of a family history of hyperhidrosis than patients with palmar hyperhidrosis. Sixty-three percent of patients reported occupational impairment related to hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis patients reported emotional and physical impairment, with a greater proportion of the axillary group reporting impairment. More than 50% of patients reported moderate to extreme impairment in personal relationships and in social situations. CONCLUSION Primary focal hyperhidrosis is a serious medical condition, affecting work productivity, daily activities, emotional well-being and personal relationships.