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Diseases of Sweat Glands

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Braun-Falco´s Dermatology

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Abstract

Like no other mammal, humans have eccrine sweat glands that are distributed over the entire skin and effectively protect against heat accumulation. Axillary and genitoanal apocrine sweat glands are found, which release fragrances with pheromone-like effects from puberty onward. Pathological sweating (hyperhidrosis) can occur as a purely functional disorder with no recognizable cause (primary) or as a result of other diseases (secondary) and cause considerable psychosocial problems. A lack of sweating (anhidrosis), on the other hand, can lead to life-threatening overheating. Pathological odor formation (bromhidrosis) and discoloration of the sweat (chromhidrosis) are also possible. Inflammatory diseases with histologically recognizable changes include miliaria and neutrophilic hidradenitis. In addition to hair, nail, or tooth defects, rare genetic defects can also lead to alteration of the sweat glands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Starnberg Skin Center, Starnberg, Germany

    Marc Heckmann

Authors
  1. Marc Heckmann
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Correspondence to Marc Heckmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Gerd Plewig

  2. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars French

  3. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

  4. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

  5. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Hertl

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

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Heckmann, M. (2022). Diseases of Sweat Glands. In: Plewig, G., French, L., Ruzicka, T., Kaufmann, R., Hertl, M. (eds) Braun-Falco´s Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-63709-8_72

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-63709-8_72

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-63708-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-63709-8

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