An international research team led by Dr. Frank Bosmans (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) has discovered a major genetic cause of hyperhidrosis (chronic and excessive sweating). The study, published in Science Advances, provides strong evidence that a genetically determined form of hyperhidrosis arises from overstimulation of the nerves that control the sweat glands. The discovery removes the stigma surrounding the condition and paves the way for targeted treatments using existing medicines.
Excessive sweating affects an estimated 2% to 5% of the population. The symptoms are far more severe than mere "awkward discomfort." Patients sweat so profusely that they have to change their clothes several times a day. The impact on daily life is enormous. Many patients avoid social contact, feel deeply ashamed and develop depression. Yet the condition is still too often dismissed as a superficial skin problem, meaning patients encounter a lack of understanding and do not receive the right care.
An overactive 'thermostat' in the nerves
Bosmans' team spent 10 years searching for answers to this problem in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. By analyzing the DNA of more than 180 patients, they discovered defects in a specific protein channel in our nerves: the NaV1.8 ion channel. This channel normally functions as a biological gate that regulates electrical signals in the nervous system.
