I Sweat a Lot From My Head: Why & What to Do?

We have sweat glands on the head!

We all have about 4 million sweat glands (glands that produce sweat) in the body:

• 3 million eccrine glands (located all over the body, especially on the hands, feet, armpits, scalp, and face);
• 1 million apocrine glands (located in the armpits and genital areas).

Therefore, it is the eccrine glands that are responsible for head hyperhidrosis.

Why do some people sweat more from the head than others? Because their sweat glands receive more nerve signals from the brain instructing them to secrete sweat, via the nerves that connect the various parts of our body. But not because they have more glands than others.

Several hormones are involved in giving this order to the brain, such as acetylcholine. Various treatments are proposed to specifically “block” these messages from the nervous system and reduce sweating from the head, as we will see later.

You are not alone in experiencing excessive head sweating…

In United-States alone, thousands of people inquire every month via the web about excessive head sweating and its causes:

And when questioning people affected by hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), 1 in 4 people reports sweating excessively from the head or face.

Source: Lear 2007

Can head sweating be linked to a medical condition?

In 90% of cases, excessive sweating (whether from the head or another part of the body) is of genetic origin. It is said to be idiopathic, meaning without a known cause, other than a probable genetic predisposition. This is referred to as primary hyperhidrosis.

Therefore, in 10% of cases, excessive sweating is either due to a medical condition or lifestyle. In such cases, it is termed secondary hyperhidrosis, indicating excessive sweating related to another “issue.”

What are the most common diseases or health conditions associated with excessive sweating?

• Menopause, due to hormonal changes;
• Being overweight or obese;
• Diabetes;
• Thyroid problems;
• Parkinson’s disease;
• Heart failure;
• Certain infections, etc.

In practice, it is much more likely that there is no underlying medical condition causing this excessive head sweating, as more than 9 out of 10 people do not have a disease as the cause.

Refer to my more general article on the causes of excessive sweating (soon in English).

Can head sweating be related to lifestyle?

Indeed, in 1 out of 10 people, excessive sweating is related to either a medical condition or lifestyle.

Especially:

• Excessive alcohol consumption. I have dedicated a specific article to excessive facial sweating linked to alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption can also worsen pre-existing excessive sweating:
• The use of tramadol, opioids, heroin, or methadone significantly increases the risk of hyperhidrosis, whether one is affected or not initially. Cannabis consumption does not seem to increase sweating.
• Being overweight also increases the risk of excessive sweating.
• Taking other medications, especially those used for psychiatric conditions or Parkinson’s disease, antibiotics, hormones, etc.

Alcohol, the use of “hard” drugs, being overweight, and certain medications increase the risk of excessive head sweating.

Is it sometimes genetic to sweat more from the head?

Yes, in 9 out of 10 cases, hyperhidrosis is not related to lifestyle or a medical condition. Some people are genetically predisposed to sweat “more than average” from the head.

Just as some people are genetically predisposed to be tall or develop other diseases...

Why more head sweating at night?

It is possible to experience excessive sweating only at night from the head or another part of the body, or more at night than during the day.

How can this be explained? For at least three reasons:

1. During the night, our body naturally experiences a drop in body temperature, which can trigger sweating in response to the temperature decrease. This sweating response is stronger in some individuals.
2. Another factor contributing to excessive sweating at night is the activity of the autonomic nervous system. This system is responsible for regulating various bodily functions, such as body temperature, respiration, and blood circulation. In some people with nighttime hyperhidrosis, the autonomic nervous system may be overactive, leading to increased sweating at night.
3. Hormonal imbalances can also play a role in excessive night sweating.

Of course, factors related to room temperature and how you are covered can also play a role! Just like the choice of bedding and sheets that are more or less “anti-sweat,” and whether the room is well-ventilated.

Fatigue & sweating: cause of headaches?

Some people wonder if there is a connection between these three things:

1. Fatigue;
2. Sweating;
3. Headaches.

Indeed, these three sensations and manifestations are often linked and often have the same “triggers.” Here are six:

Dehydration: it can cause both fatigue, excessive sweating, and headaches.

Stress and anxiety: they can cause headaches and excessive sweating, and they can also contribute to fatigue.

Fever: due to an infection, it can cause fatigue, headaches, and night sweats.

Migraine: they are often accompanied by severe headaches, fatigue, and, in some cases, sweating.

Hypoglycemia: a drop in blood sugar levels can lead to fatigue, headaches, and sweating.

Other issues such as hypertension, thyroid disorders, neurological disorders, or even more severe infections can also be associated with these symptoms.

What are the main solutions for head sweating?

Here is an overview of the main treatments proposed for excessive head sweating. You can find more detailed information on my website.

These solutions can be grouped into three main categories:

1. Tips for sweating less or being less bothered by head sweating;
2. Medical or surgical treatments without medication;
3. Medications for excessive sweating.

Tips for sweating less from the head or being less bothered

I have already written an article on how to sweat less on the face through tips (coming soon in english). Here is a summary of some tips:

• Try to always be in well-ventilated places: fans, open windows, outdoors. Circulating air helps “dry” the sweat excreted by the skin and therefore reduces sweating. Some people even use a fan in their office during winter. There are also “face fans” to be worn around the head or neck (see on Amazon);
• Wipe yourself regularly with a quick-drying fabric towel, cotton, or microfiber;
• Use “cooling towels” designed with super-absorbent fibers (see on Amazon). They can be attached around the head. Just wet them, wring them out, and apply them to the body;
• If taking medications or substances that increase sweating, try to limit their consumption. The same goes for weight gain. Although it is not simply a matter of “wanting,” I am well aware of that!

Do you have other tips? Feel free to share them in the comments; it will benefit others 🙂

Medical or Surgical Treatments for Head Sweating

There are antiperspirants specifically designed for the face (excluding areas with hair). They most often contain aluminum chloride, similar to antiperspirants for the armpits. See my article on the most effective antiperspirants for hyperhidrosis (coming soon in English).

• In the form of wipes
• In the form of cream/balm (see on Amazon)

Some doctors offer injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) in the forehead or scalp to temporarily stop sweating (or rather, reduce its intensity).

Iontophoresis is not well-suited for head or facial sweating.

In rare cases, a surgical procedure, thoracic sympathectomy, may be proposed. However, there is a significant risk of compensatory hyperhidrosis: you may sweat in other parts of the body without being able to revert the situation.

Unfortunately, there is no “miracle solution” for sweating. Only medical or non-medical solutions, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to each individual to weigh the benefits, risks, and constraints of each solution.

I understand that this can be frustrating, as head sweating is often very bothersome, including socially. But that’s how things are, pending any potential advances in research.

Medications for Head Sweating

Another solution suggested for head sweating, especially when other options with fewer potential side effects have been tried, is medication. The two main medications for regulating sweating are:

• Those based on oxybutynin (see my article on oxybutynin for sweating);
• Those based on glycopyrrolate (see my article on glycopyrrolate for sweating).

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Do you have any comments or questions? Your comments are welcome 🙂 !

You may also like:

• Excessive Scalp Sweating
• Medications for Excessive Sweating

 📚 SOURCES

SweatHelp:  here

Lear W, Kessler E, Solish N, et al. An epidemiological study of hyperhidrosis. Dermatol Surg 2007;33(s1):S69–75