Quick Look: Key Points

How Do You Diagnose Heavy Sweating?

Here's the thing: every method for figuring out how bad excessive sweating is has its flaws. Nothing's 100% accurate. That's why sometimes, people just skip the whole diagnosis part.

Written by: Stefan Menzi

Diagnosis & Classification

There's no single, perfect way to measure heavy or excessive sweating. That's why a clear diagnosis isn't always straightforward. People often seek advice from dermatologists or look for treatment options online.

At SweatStop®, we've helped thousands of customers, and we've identified three main groups:

Above Average > People who sweat noticeably more than others during exertion (like dancing or giving a presentation). They'll say, "I sweat more than most people, and it's really noticeable."
Heavy > People who sweat heavily even with light exertion. They get big sweat patches. They'll say, "I sweat a lot even with just a little activity."
Very Heavy > People who sweat heavily without doing anything. They wake up in the morning and already have big sweat patches. They'll say, "I sweat a ton even when I'm not doing anything."

Diagnosis with a Dermatologist

Usually, a doctor can diagnose excessive sweating just by talking to you about your symptoms. A detailed discussion helps them understand how much it's affecting you and if there are any reasons you shouldn't use certain treatments. To measure how much you sweat, there are different methods, but the Minor's iodine-starch test is often the most useful. In this test, the area is moistened with an iodine solution and then dusted with starch powder. Areas with more sweat will turn a darker color. The darker the color, the more sweat is being produced.

The Minor's test is completely painless. If you don't want to do the test, you can also rate your sweating yourself. Just use the questions above.

Self-Assessment Checklist

How much do I sweat?

Above Average > People who sweat noticeably more than others during exertion (like dancing or giving a presentation). They'll say, "I sweat more than most people, and it's really noticeable."
Heavy > People who sweat heavily even with light exertion. They get big sweat patches. They'll say, "I sweat a lot even with just a little activity."
Very Heavy > People who sweat heavily without doing anything. They wake up in the morning and already have big sweat patches. They'll say, "I sweat a ton even when I'm not doing anything."
Excessive (Hyperhidrosis) > People who sweat excessively without doing anything. They've been sweating like this for years and have sought help from a dermatologist.

Does my sweat smell?

No
Yes, but not very strong
Yes, very strong (Bromhidrosis)

Where do I sweat?

Localized (sweating in specific areas like armpits, hands, back, butt)
Generalized (sweating all over the body)

What triggers my sweating?

Excessive sweating can be caused by normal body functions or medical conditions.

Normal Causes

High temperatures or physical work
Nervousness, stress, anxiety, excitement, anger, pain
Eating spicy or acidic foods
Reactions to certain substances

Medical Causes

Symptomatic:

Hormonal imbalances (like an overactive thyroid or diabetes)
Neurological conditions (like Ross syndrome)
Illnesses with high fever (like tuberculosis)
Andropause symptoms in men

You can find more causes of heavy sweating here: Causes of Heavy Sweating

Classification - Quantitative Levels

This table explains the different levels of sweating severity by body area.

Guide to Finding the Right Product
	I sweat more than usual (noticeably more than others)	I sweat heavily with light activity	I sweat very heavily without any activity
Forehead	Damp forehead Product Strength 8	Wet forehead Product Strength 13	Sweat dripping from forehead Product Strength 19
Head	Head is constantly damp Product Strength 8	Head is wet, hair sticks together Product Strength 13	Sweat drips, hair sticks together Product Strength 19
Armpits	Sweat patches 2-4 inches in diameter under the armpits (on t-shirts) Product Strength 8	Sweat patches 4-8 inches in diameter under the armpits (on t-shirts) Product Strength 13	Sweat patches over 8 inches in diameter under the armpits (on t-shirts) Product Strength 19
Body	Increased sweating episodes Product Strength 8	Frequent sweating episodes Product Strength 13	Clothing is soaked through Product Strength 19
Hands	Damp hands Product Strength Instant	Wet hands Product Strength 23	Sweat dripping from hands Product Strength 23 and Instant
Feet	Damp feet Product Strength Instant	Wet feet Product Strength 23	Sweat dripping from feet Product Strength 23