Sweating From Only One Armpit (or One Side of The Body)?

Is sweating from just one side of the armpits or body common?

Yes, sweating from just one armpit is quite common, which is why I’m writing an article about it!

Even if you’ve never heard of it before, you’re not alone. In United-States alone, up to 1000 people each month search Google for keywords related to sweating from just one armpit:

• I sweat from only one armpit;
• why do I sweat from only one side;
• sweating from only one side of the body;
• sweating from only one side of the face;
• and for the more mathematically inclined: asymmetrical sweating, unilateral sweating.

You may have even landed here by typing these keywords!

So no, you’re not an alien 👾, sweating from just one side of the body (for example, from just one armpit) is a known phenomenon!

What are the causes of sweating from only one side of the armpits?

There are basically two main categories of causes explaining why one may sweat from just one side of the armpits (or more from one side than the other):

• Random chance;
• what we call secondary hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating due to a illness, treatment, or underlying condition.

I’ll detail these two main types of causes so you have more clues to determine the likely cause in your case of asymmetrical sweating.

Sweating from only one armpits “by chance” 😊

It can happen that asymmetrical sweating is simply a matter of chance, without necessarily indicating an underlying medical problem.

Sweat glands can show normal variations from person to person, resulting in greater sweat activity on one side of the body than the other.

Your glands are controlled by your autonomic nervous system. Glands on one side of the body may receive the message to sweat or sweat a lot, while at the same time, glands on the other side may not.

As a result, you sweat more from one armpit than the other!

This phenomenon can be influenced by genetic, hormonal, or environmental factors. Nerve stimuli, blood circulation, and other physiological mechanisms can also play a role.

Also, skin problems in the armpit area (such as psoriasis or eczema) can affect whether you sweat more or less from one side.

You are probably in this situation if you have no other symptoms that intrigue you.

Sweating from only one armpit: secondary hyperhidrosis 🩺

Less commonly, sweating from just one side of the armpits is a symptom of what’s called secondary hyperhidrosis. A bit of a complicated term to simply mean “excessive sweating due to something.“

But if you’re in this situation, you usually have other symptoms:

• you sweat a lot, more than average. From the armpits or another part of the body;
• +++ your one-sided sweating came on suddenly, whereas before, you sweated about the same from both armpits;
• you have other health problems: diabetes, cancer, hormonal disease.

If you think your sweating from just one side of the armpits may potentially be due to a secondary cause, you can discuss it with your general practitioner at your next appointment.

Your doctor will be able to reassure you (in most cases) or (more rarely) prescribe further tests to rule out a secondary cause for this asymmetrical sweating.

If your doctor hasn’t deemed it necessary to conduct further tests (such as blood tests), it’s probably because their examination and your answers to these questions were sufficient to rule out secondary hyperhidrosis, which is more the exception than the rule!

See my article on the 6 most common causes of excessive sweating (coming soon in english).

What causes sweating from only one side of the body?

The causes of sweating from just one side of the face or another part of the body other than the armpits are exactly the same as the causes of sweating from just one side of the armpits.

So, two possible main causes:

• the most likely: the least likely:
• it’s a sign of secondary hyperhidrosis (= excessive sweating), due to a disease or condition.

So, two main possible causes:

• the most likely: fate;
• the least likely: it’s a sign of secondary hyperhidrosis (= excessive sweating), due to a disease or condition.

What to do if our sweating from only one side bothers us?

There is no specific treatment or trick for sweating from just one side of the body, compared to excessive sweating in general.

If you want to reduce your excessive sweating in one armpit, you will therefore turn to the same solutions as for both armpits.

I’ve written several comprehensive articles on this subject:

• how to hide sweat stains under the arms;
• what are the most effective antiperspirants – coming soon in english (for example, Carpe for armpits: see on Amazon).

I regularly conduct surveys among subscribers to my newsletter (800+ subscribers in 2024: hyperhidrosis’sufferer). Here is the most recommended antiperspirant:

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

You may also like:

• My blog on hyperhidrosis
• How To Remove Deodorant Buildup From Shirts?

 📚 SOURCES

Waran E. Doctor, I am sweating on just one side of my body: unilateral hyperhidrosis associated with mesothelioma. Clin Case Rep. 2016 Apr 13;4(5):533-4. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.557. PMID: 27190625; PMCID: PMC4856255.

Kisielnicka A, Szczerkowska-Dobosz A, Purzycka-Bohdan D, Nowicki RJ. Hyperhidrosis: disease aetiology, classification and management in the light of modern treatment modalities. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2022 Apr;39(2):251-257. doi: 10.5114/ada.2022.115887. Epub 2022 May 9. PMID: 35645673; PMCID: PMC9131949.