Risk factors

Certain factors make anhidrosis more likely, including:

• Age. People age 65 and older, infants, and children are more prone to heat stress, which can contribute to anhidrosis.
• Certain health problems. Any medical condition that damages your autonomic nerves, such as diabetes, makes sweat gland problems more likely.
• Skin disorders. Many diseases that irritate or inflame the skin also affect the sweat glands. They include psoriasis; exfoliative dermatitis, which is marked by severe skin scaling; heat rash; scleroderma, which causes hard, tight skin; and ichthyosis — extremely dry, scaly skin.
• Genetic abnormalities. Mutations in certain genes can lead to disorders that affect the sweat glands.