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UAE: Suffering from sweaty palms and forehead? Might be more than just nerves, medics say
Primary palmar hyperhidrosis is caused by overactive sympathetic nerves, unrelated to anxiety or external temperature
- PUBLISHED: Sat 23 Aug 2025, 1:07 PM
For years, Ahmed Ali, a 39-year-old media professional, grappled with an invisible but disruptive condition — excessive hand sweating, medically known as palmar hyperhidrosis.
What many dismissed as a minor nuisance was, for Ahmed, a daily battle. From soaked keyboards and smudged phone screens to awkward handshakes that left him socially anxious, particularly during interviews, the condition primarily affected his professional life.
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"It’s very random and not connected to nervousness. Once, I had a five-member panel interview and was in a high-stress environment… and I didn’t break a sweat. Another time, I was just chatting with a colleague in a casual setting when sweat suddenly started pouring from my forehead, and it got so bad that I made an excuse to go to the washroom and ran out of there," he narrated.
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The unpredictability of his sweating episodes became a mental burden. "The moment it happens, I start worrying that people will notice, and that stress just makes me sweat even more. It’s such a bizarre condition. I have absolutely no control over it. I could be sweating even with the AC on full blast," Ali shared with Khaleej Times.
After consulting a dermatologist, he was diagnosed with primary palmar hyperhidrosis, a condition caused by overactive sympathetic nerves, unrelated to anxiety or external temperature. “I know there is an option for surgery, but somehow I am not open to the idea, as it is not a life-threatening condition,” he added.
'Misunderstood condition'
Dr Asmaa Al Khatib, Specialist Dermatologist at Quttainah Specialized Hospital, Dubai, explained that hyperhidrosis often goes unaddressed, though it significantly impacts quality of life. “If sweating is frequent, unpredictable, and interferes with daily activities or quality of life, it’s time to consult a doctor. Unlike occasional nervous sweating, primary hyperhidrosis usually starts in adolescence, is symmetric (both palms or both sides of the forehead), and occurs even at rest. Many people suffer in silence, thinking it’s just part of their personality or stress response.”
Dr Khaldoon Abou Daka, Specialist Thoracic Surgeon at Prime Hospital, added that despite affecting thousands globally, the condition is still under-recognised.
“Despite a global prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis ranging from 0.07 to 9 per cent, it remains under-recognized and often misunderstood. Among all hyperhidrosis cases, most are classified as primary, meaning they are not linked to any underlying medical condition," he said.
Daka highlighted that for many young individuals, this condition begins in childhood and becomes a source of daily distress. Social interactions, academic tasks, and even simple gestures like shaking hands or using a touchscreen become overwhelming.
The psychological toll is profound, often leading to isolation, low self-esteem, and a diminished quality of life. "Adolescents suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis typically endure a long and frustrating journey through various treatments. Topical antiperspirants, oral medications, and even repeated Botox injections — once considered promising — frequently fail to provide lasting relief. For these patients, the condition becomes more than a physical inconvenience; it becomes a relentless barrier to normal life," Daka said.
Minimally invasive procedure
Reflecting on two young patients, Daka explained that these individuals — M.H., aged 15, and H.A., aged 16 — exemplified the challenges faced by those suffering from severe sweating disorders. Their lives were marked by constant discomfort and the fear of social judgment. But he emphasized everything changed after undergoing a minimally invasive procedure called Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy.
"The procedure typically targets the sympathetic nerves responsible for triggering excessive sweating. In both cases, the results were transformative. Post-surgery, the patients experienced complete normalization of hand sweating, enabling them to participate confidently in social and academic activities. The only reported side effect was temporary mild chest pain at the surgical site — an expected and manageable outcome. Today these teens are thriving, their lives no longer dictated by a condition that once seemed insurmountable."
"For many young sufferers, this procedure could be the key to reclaiming their confidence and comfort,” he added.
