ArticlePloS one2021
'Excessive sweating is not a feminine thing': A qualitative study of women's experiences suffering from primary hyperhidrosis.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Primary Hyperhidrosis: A Review of Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Management.Acta dermato-venereologica · 2026Review
- Self-Reported Prevalence and Awareness of Hyperhidrosis Among Medical Students at the Gulf Medical University, UAE.Cureus · 2026Article
- Impact of primary hyperhidrosis on patients' quality of life in Damietta governorates.Archives of dermatological research · 2025Article
- Food and Beverage Habits Among Individuals with Primary Hyperhidrosis: A Case-Control Survey in Sweden.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2025Article
- Observational
- The Impact of Hyperhidrosis on Quality of Life: A Review of the Literature.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPrimary hyperhidrosis, excessive focal sweating is a common disease equally affecting men and women. Women tend to seek care more often and assess being more affected by hyperhidrosis in their daily life. The aim of this study was to explore experiences of living with primary hyperhidros in a sample of 15 women.
methodsIndividual, semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 15 women diagnosed with primary hyperhidrosis and analysed by qualitative content analysis utilising an inductive approach.
resultsThe analysis resulted in a theme, constantly guarding the female image, based on three categories, misfitting the feminine norms, avoiding the attention of others and passing like any woman. Primary hyperhidrosis in women disrupted the ideal feminine appearance. Wearing clothes that concealed hyperhidrosis and distancing from social gatherings, in combination with negative remarks by others, created stress and anxiety and had a negative effect on self-esteem. Women felt poorly understood by others regarding the extent of their sweating and were misunderstood in intimate situations while trying to reduce the sweat production. Choices regarding education and career opportunities were affected, since being exposed and receiving attention due to primary hyperhidrosis was unwanted. Treatment with botulinum toxin liberated women from excessive sweating and removed a social handicap they described living with.
conclusionPrimary hyperhidrosis in women disrupts the feminine appearance, lowers self-esteem and hinders social interactions. Clinicians assessing primary hyperhidrosis need to be aware that women may report the impairments from primary hyperhidrosis as being more associated with body image and appearance than with functional reductions in daily life. Educating patients, providing accurate information regarding the disease via media and cooperating with patient groups are important for increasing awareness and achieving progress in care for women with primary hyperhidrosis.
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