Head sweats, or craniofacial hyperhidrosis, are often caused by overactive sweat glands (primary hyperhidrosis) or underlying conditions like diabetes, thyroid issues (hyperthyroidism), infections, hormonal changes (menopause), certain cancers, or neurological disorders (secondary hyperhidrosis), and can also be a side effect of medications. Primary sweating starts young and is genetic, while secondary causes develop later and need investigation to find the root illness, like hypoglycemia, heart failure, or infections.
Sometimes, excessive sweating from the head and face can be put down to a medical condition called craniofacial hyperfidrosis, which is caused by overactive sweat glands. Another condition is secondary hyperhidrosis.
There are different types of Hyperhidrosis and can be cause by an underlying condition like diabetes, heart disease or even menopause. But most often, it is not severe and is just caused by hyperactive sweat glands. You should always consult a doctor if you feel that you have excessive scalp sweating.
Health conditions that might cause excessive sweating include:
Seek immediate medical attention if your heavy sweating is accompanied by lightheadedness, chest pain or nausea. Contact your doctor if: You suddenly begin to sweat more than usual. Sweating disrupts your daily routine.
Excessive sweating, especially sweating of the head, can be a sign of a vitamin D deficiency. A change in the amount you sweat or your sweating patterns should be cause for concern.
What you can do to limit head sweating?
Excessive sweating is a common symptom of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, and lupus. Those with lupus are at higher risk of additional autoimmune diseases.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is common. It is known to cause a wide spectrum of neurological syndromes, including autonomic dysfunction. Three cases are discussed here in which drenching night sweats were thought to be caused by vitamin B12 deficiency.
Most often, tuberculosis and Brucella bacteria lead to sweating. Bacterial infections, especially heart valve infection, bone infection, abscesses and HIV infection can cause sweating.
A wide range of medications can cause excessive sweating. Examples include antidepressants such as Lexapro (escitalopram), Zoloft (sertraline), and bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, Wellbutrin SR). Prednisone (Rayos, Prednisone Intensol), NSAIDs, and Viagra (sildenafil) can also make you sweat.
Why Does My Head Sweat So Much? Sweating is part of the body's natural thermoregulation process, but excessive sweating, known as craniofacial hyperhidrosis, can be triggered by a number of reasons. ¹ Common triggers include heat, stress, spicy foods, and exercise.
One of the ways diabetes can affect the body is by overstimulating the sweat glands. Because of this, it's harder to maintain a steady internal body temperature. Extreme fluctuations in blood sugar can also affect perspiration, leading to hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) or anhidrosis (lack of sweating).
Sweating from your scalp in particular can increase blood flow, unclog pores, flush out toxins and even support healthy hair growth. Don't worry - sweat itself is not harmful or damaging to your hair. It's more about what you do before and after you get sweaty that can impact your hair health.
Stress and perspiration are closely linked
Experiencing stress can therefore trigger a sweating phenomenon on the entire surface of the body, but mostly on the face, in the palms of the hands, on the soles of the feet and in the armpits.
Warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include extreme fatigue, weakness, pale/yellow skin, numbness/tingling (pins and needles), cognitive issues (memory fog, confusion), mood changes (depression/irritability), and a sore, red tongue, alongside potential shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and balance problems, as symptoms develop slowly and can worsen over time. It's crucial to see a GP, as early treatment prevents potentially irreversible neurological damage, say NHS, Cleveland Clinic, and WebMD.
Urinary incontinence, impotence and orthostatic hypotension are well-recognized autonomic manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency (1) . I have seen patients with long-standing drenching night sweats responding dramatically to intramuscular vitamin B12.
Diabetes can cause sweat to smell sweet, fruity, or like nail polish remover due to high ketone levels from uncontrolled blood sugar (diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA), a serious complication requiring immediate medical attention, often accompanied by excessive thirst, urination, weakness, nausea, or confusion. In some cases, uncontrolled diabetes might also lead to sweat smelling like ammonia, especially with kidney issues, or cause increased sweating.
Early warning signs of lupus often include extreme fatigue, unexplained fever, joint pain/swelling, skin rashes (especially a butterfly-shaped one on the face), hair loss, mouth sores, and Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers/toes turning white or blue in the cold). Because these symptoms mimic other conditions, lupus can be hard to diagnose early, but they often come in waves (flares) and affect various body systems.
Primary hyperhidrosis is caused by faulty nerve signals that trigger eccrine sweat glands to become overactive. It usually affects the palms, soles, underarms and sometimes the face.
Three key signs of Sjögren's syndrome are dry eyes, dry mouth, and profound fatigue, stemming from this autoimmune condition attacking moisture-producing glands, though other symptoms like joint pain, swollen glands, and systemic issues can also occur.
Propantheline bromide is an anticholinergic medicine licensed for treating hyperhidrosis. However, anticholinergic medicines unlicensed for hyperhidrosis – such as oxybutynin and glycopyrronium bromide – can also be prescribed if your doctor feels they might help.
See a GP if you're sweating excessively and:
it stops you from getting on with your daily activities. it happens at least once a week. it happens at night (you're having night sweats) you have a family history of excessive sweating.
Supplements like magnesium, vitamin B complex, sage, and fish oil can provide some relief. Medications can also influence sweat levels, but it's important to consult your doctor for personalized advice. Remember, you've got options.
Sweating is a natural process that helps cool the body. However, excessive sweating of the face and head could indicate a condition known as hyperhidrosis. The term “hyperhidrosis” means excessive (hyper) sweating (hidrosis). It can occur on its own, or as a result of another condition or medication.