Causes

Anhidrosis occurs when your sweat glands don't function properly, either as a result of a condition you're born with (congenital condition) or one that affects your nerves or skin. Dehydration also can cause anhidrosis. Sometimes the cause of anhidrosis can't be found.

Causes of anhidrosis include:

• Conditions you're born with, such as certain congenital dysplasias that affect the development of sweat glands
• Inherited conditions that affect your metabolic system, such as Fabry's disease
• Connective tissue diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, which causes dry eyes and mouth
• Skin damage, such as from burns or radiation therapy, or diseases that clog your pores (poral occlusion), such as psoriasis
• Conditions that cause nerve damage (neuropathy), such as diabetes, alcoholism and Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Certain drugs, such as morphine and botulinum toxin type A, and those used to treat psychosis