What is the term for excessive sweating or perspiration?

The term for excessive sweating or perspiration is hyperhidrosis. This condition can be a result of various factors, including genetics, hormonal changes, or certain medical conditions. Individuals experiencing hyperhidrosis may sweat excessively in specific areas, such as the hands, feet, or underarms, even when not engaged in physical activity or in warm environments.

Diaphoresis is a term often used interchangeably with sweating but specifically refers to profuse sweating, usually as a response to heat or as a symptom of an underlying medical condition. While it describes a state of sweating, it does not fully capture the condition of excessive sweating as a chronic issue, which is what hyperhidrosis denotes.

Sweat gland dysfunction pertains to malfunctions of the sweat glands but does not specifically define excessive sweating. Heat exhaustion is a serious state caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures leading to heavy sweating and dehydration but is not a term that directly identifies excessive sweating alone. Thus, hyperhidrosis is the most accurate term for describing the condition characterized by excessive perspiration.