Living with hyperhidrosis can feel isolating, and good information is scattered across patient groups, forums, clinic websites and research databases. Some of it is excellent and some of it is unreliable. I live with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis and have had a sympathectomy, so I know how hard it can be to work out where to look. This guide pulls together the communities and resources I would point a friend to, what each one is good for, and what to watch out for.
I checked every link in October 2026. The timing is useful too: November is Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month, run by the International Hyperhidrosis Society.
Quick answers
Where can I find other people with hyperhidrosis?
Start with a moderated community such as the Sweaty Girl Society (a free membership community for women), or an open forum like r/Hyperhidrosis on Reddit. Dutch speakers have a patient forum at overmatigzweten.nl.
Is there a patient organization for hyperhidrosis?
Yes. The International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS) is a nonprofit founded in 2003. It offers a clinician finder, patient education, information on clinical trials and a news blog.
How do I find a doctor who treats it?
Use the IHHS Clinician Finder, or start with your GP or family doctor, who can refer you to a dermatologist. The NHS says to see a GP if self-help isn’t working, or if the sweating is affecting your daily life or happens at night.
Can I trust medical advice from online groups?
Treat groups as a place to share experience, not to get dosing or diagnosis advice. For medical decisions, use a doctor and sources such as the NHS, the American Academy of Dermatology or Cleveland Clinic.
At a glance
| Resource | Best for | Language or region |
|---|---|---|
| International Hyperhidrosis Society | Doctor finder, education, clinical trial information | English, global |
| Sweaty Girl Society | Community and podcast for women with HH | English, global |
| r/Hyperhidrosis (Reddit) | Quick questions and shared experiences | English, global |
| Overmatig Zweten forum | Patient forum for Dutch speakers | Dutch |
| Hyperhidrosis UK | Treatment information | English, UK |
| NHS | When to see a GP and what treatments exist | English, UK |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Finding research studies | English, global |
Start with the International Hyperhidrosis Society
The International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS) describes itself as the world’s largest organization dedicated to hyperhidrosis. It is a nonprofit, founded in 2003 by physicians and hyperhidrosis experts, and it is a registered 501(c)(3) charity. Its mission is to reduce the symptoms, anxiety and stigma of excessive sweating by improving information, support and access to treatment.
What it offers patients:
- A Clinician Finder to locate providers who treat excessive sweating
- Education on the types of sweating and treatment options
- Insurance and reimbursement tools, and tips for medical appointments
- Information on clinical trials
- A news blog and podcasts
Awareness Month is worth knowing about. For 2026 the IHHS says it is sharing the message that excessive, uncontrollable sweating is a serious medical condition. It uses the hashtags #HyperhidrosisAwarenessMonth and #KnowSweat2026, and you can see how to take part.
Online communities and forums
Sweaty Girl Society
Sweaty Girl Society is a free membership community and podcast for women with hyperhidrosis. It was started by Karina, who has had hyperhidrosis since age 10 and says she spent about 30 years mostly hiding it before speaking openly about it at 40. I interviewed her here: Interview with Karina, founder of Sweaty Girl Society. The community is members-only, so you need to join to see what’s inside.
r/Hyperhidrosis on Reddit
Reddit has a Hyperhidrosis community where people ask what worked for them. It is a good place for “has anyone tried this?” questions. Like any open forum, results vary a lot between people, so read it as experience and not as evidence, and don’t take dosing advice from strangers.
Facebook and other social groups
There are several hyperhidrosis groups on Facebook, and you can find them by searching for “hyperhidrosis”. Quality varies, so before you join, check that:
- The rules are posted and actually enforced
- There are active moderators, and members are not allowed to sell products in posts
- The group is private if you don’t want your posts to be public
- Members are encouraged to see a doctor and not to treat themselves from advice in the comments
Overmatig Zweten (Dutch)
If you speak Dutch, overmatigzweten.nl is a patient forum that describes itself as the website of the Dutch hyperhidrosis patient association. It has sections on medication, Botox, iontophoresis, miraDry, surgery and clothing, and had around 4,000 members when I checked.
Hyperhidrosis UK
Hyperhidrosis UK is an information website. It covers primary and secondary hyperhidrosis, a tool for working out whether you have it, and treatments from antiperspirants and iontophoresis to botulinum toxin and surgery. It doesn’t appear to have a forum, but the NHS links to it as further information.
If you have had ETS surgery
People who have had sympathectomy surgery, or are considering it, often look for others with compensatory sweating. One place is the ETS and reversals forum. It is made up of personal accounts, and many posts describe poor outcomes. It is useful for hearing what others experienced, but figures posted there are not verified. For outcomes, look at peer-reviewed reviews, and read my own page on ETS surgery.
Podcasts and social media
- Sweaty Girl Society Podcast: hosted by Karina, with guests including company founders, a therapist who talks about mental health and hyperhidrosis, and a clothing brand founder. It is on Apple Podcasts, Audible, iHeart and Podimo.
- Know Sweat podcasts from the IHHS.
- The IHHS is on Facebook (@SweatingStopsHere), X and Instagram (@WeKnowSweat), and LinkedIn.
Trusted medical information
When you want facts and not personal stories, these are the ones I trust to start with:
- NHS: excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis): when to see a GP, what pharmacists can offer, and what a specialist might try. The NHS says to see a GP if self-help isn’t working, the sweating has lasted six months or more, it stops you carrying on with daily activities, it happens at least once a week, or it happens at night.
- Cleveland Clinic: an overview of causes and treatments.
- American Academy of Dermatology: dermatologists’ patient overview.
- MedlinePlus: plain-language information from the US National Library of Medicine.
- DermNet: a dermatology reference site.
Finding a doctor
The IHHS Clinician Finder lists providers who say they treat excessive sweating. It is a good starting point, but it isn’t a recommendation of any one clinician, so check their experience yourself. You can also go through your GP or family doctor. Before the appointment, write down where you sweat, how often, what you’ve tried and how much it affects your day. If you want to know what the treatments are first, see what actually works, head to feet and the comparison of Brella, Botox, Sofdra and iontophoresis.
Research and clinical trials
If you’re curious about new treatments, ClinicalTrials.gov lists studies on hyperhidrosis, and the IHHS has a page on taking part in research. Check each study’s status on the official record, since third-party sites copy the data and can be out of date. Contacting a study team to ask about pre-screening doesn’t commit you to taking part.
Mental health matters too
Hyperhidrosis is more than a physical problem. The IHHS says people with the condition face nearly three times the risk of anxiety and depression. If it is getting you down, you’re not alone, and it’s worth talking to a doctor or a therapist about. I’ve written about hyperhidrosis and mental health and about accepting it and adapting. If you ever feel you are in crisis, contact your local emergency number or crisis line.
How to get the most from a community, safely
- Treat advice as someone’s experience, not a prescription. What worked for them may not suit you.
- Be careful with “cure” claims, and with anyone selling a product in the comments.
- Don’t share medical details or your full name in public groups unless you’re comfortable with that.
- Check anything medical against a trusted source, then talk to your doctor.
Where my own resources fit
If you’re not sure where to begin, try my free Find what fits you finder on the homepage, which suggests articles and products based on where you sweat. You can also browse treatments and products by country and the worldwide product list.
I wrote this guide from each organization’s own pages and checked the links in October 2026. Websites and communities change, so if something has moved or closed, tell me and I’ll update it. This is general information and not medical advice.
