Does SJS affect sweat glands?

[Deb 27]

Ok, I guess that's kind of personal but I don't think I can sweat much anymore. My head sweats but I think that's about it. I think this causes me to overeat and very intolerance of heat.  Does anybody else have this problem?

[Navigator]

I have found that I can no longer cry and my sinuses are dry.  I take Evoxac so I still sweat but I imagine without meds I may not. The B-cells impact exocrine glands.   And those would be included.

[irish]

Sweat glands are secreting glands and these are the glands that are affected by the Sjogrens syndrome. Some people sweat buckets---I do and it almost ruins my life at times. The water runs out of my head and onto my shoulders and onto the floor. I was at Lowes today shopping and I was so hot I thought I would pass out. My clothes and hair were wet when I left.

On the other hand, there are many people on this site who say they never sweat and that is a problem for them. I don't understand the mechanics behind this but it could be possible that their sweat glands have already been destroyed by the Sjogrens.  I would think someone would be around to give us some input on this subject. Irish

[Carolina]

Yes it does.  Both lack of sweating/sweat pouring down for no apparent reason.  Right now we are in this heatwave of 96 feels like 106 weather in NC.  And I CAN sweat, but mostly from my head.

So, Deb, do you mean OVER HEAT?  Everything causes me to OVER EAT.   

Ain't we got fun?

Hugs, Elaine

[Lindabridge]

I am also unable to cry, and I find this very disturbing. Crying, like laughing, is a natural release of emotion and tension. I feel as if I'm in a straitjacket. Speaking of sweating, I am unable to produce any moistness from my armpits, but the sweat pours down my face when I'm gardening.

Are our exocrine glands truly destroyed, or placed in a lockdown mode? I don't understand the physiological processes of Sjogren's.

Please, someone invent a magic pill to help us!

[SjoGirl]

Like others I don't sweat any more. I am taking Evoxac, but have to take a much smaller dose, only 15 mg at a time 2x a day, or I sweat like a piglet (really more like a hot hog).

Fortunately, I have been able to produce tears thanks to using Restasis, but the ability to produce has been decreasing even with that drug.

[Dolly Dimples]

Well i am completly the opposite. here in the UK we are having the warmest weather so far this year, and me I am still cold. it is getting me down as i can never seem to dress well now, always got stockings on and woolies! wrapped in fleecy blanket when I watch TV or on the PC, its got me crazy!
     I have always said that Sjogrens can disrupt every part of a body!   Dolly

[bluegardenia]

i can sweat  everywhere like "before" but my temperature is somehow different. i dont feel the cold like before and my temperature that has always been really low , now is not so low anymore. i can cry but im afraid of doing this bec it hurts a little. yes, i would like to know why sjs has affected my mouth and  not my armpits, it would be so much more confortable...

[selavy59]

It makes me sweat profusely in a very embarrassing way. Needless to say I avoid sitting down too long in a public place.

[Lindabridge]

When I start to cry, the skin or muscles around my eyes feels very tight. I guess you could say that it it painful to cry. So, I do my best to avoid it.

[Spring]

Hi Deb,

I had not sweat under the arms in years, and no BO under there either. Did not even need deodorants. Lately, for some reason, only a bit and not daily, and only under the right. I do sweat elsewhere. Life can sure get crazy.

Spring

[Deb 27]

I enjoyed reading people's responses.  Interesting how  this disease can affect us.   

Yes, I do feel like I over heat and over eat!!! LOL....

I found out my thyroid was over active, they had to cut my meds. It's just been a hot summer  here in Florida.....

[Kitt]

Patients with autonomic illness can go to a major facility and go through an 'autonomic clinic'.  It usually takes about a week with a number of tests to determine what sort of autonomic illness a person has, or doen't have.

Am not suggesting that patients with SJS should go through autonomic testing, but with regard to sweating I wanted to share info about  a test that is specific to sweat gland function.  It's called a Thermoregulatory Sweat Test.  This is the test where they sprinkle your body with a yellow powder and put you in a box and really turn up the heat.

You're supposed to turn purple.  It's a real mess trying to shower afterwards.  If the powder doesn't turn purple than you have neuropathy, but there are very wide degrees of severity.   Some people only have distal neuropathy, in their hands or feet.  I shouldn't say 'only' because distal neuropathy can be very painful, as all  neuropathy is.  Distal neuropathy or neuropahy in the hands and feet is perhaps the most common neuropathy.

My last TST test in April the powder stayed yellow on my entire bocy. I am getting the punch biopsy in September to confirm small fiber neuropathy, along with more testing.  I know patients on this forum are very sophisticated in their knowledge, but the sweat test is interesting.  Most people who say they don't sweat will sweat all over when the box gets really hot. When I had my first TST test I didn't think I would sweat, but I turned completely purple with the exception of some distal neuropathy in my feet.


There are over 70 types of neuropathy.  Small fiber neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy are most prevalent with SJS.

I used to have severe night sweats in the first years of having dysautonomia.  I woke up soaking wet.  That's called hyperhydrosis.  (too much sweating)  Now I have hypohydrosis.   When I have night sweats now the only thing that is soaking wet is my head, face and hair, and oddly behind my knees.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Jenny]

I only sweat on my forehead. I sometimes have nightsweats and have to get up to dry my face off in the middle of the night. It's a problem as I live in Florida and my bangs are almost constantly wet. Oh well, I guess there are a lot more worse things. It's just annoying.

[Kitt]

Hi Jenny and all,

My point with a thermo sweat test is that it's used to detect neuropathy.

A positive skin punch biopsy is proof positive for small fiber neuropathy but will not detect other neuropathy.

So lack of sweating and neuropathy are linked, and while the thermo sweat test is only available at a few facilities in the country it may be something to ask about if you're having lack of sweat and unexplained pain.

This test was not done on me for SJS, but for another condition called Dysautonomia.

Best,
K