Skin and sweating problems
People with Parkinson’s sometimes have problems with their skin, or how much they sweat.
We look at what symptoms you may have and how to manage them.
Oily skin
Our bodies contain glands which make different things, including sweat. Glands in the skin, called sebaceous glands, make an oily substance called sebum.
Sebum protects your skin from getting too dry. People with Parkinson’s may make more sebum than other people. This can mean the skin, especially your face and scalp, can become greasy or shiny.
Problems making facial expressions
If you have Parkinson’s, a lack of dopamine in the brain can stop your facial muscles working as well as they used to. This can limit the amount of facial expressions you have. This is called hypomimia. This may make it easier for extra oil (sebum) to build up on your face.
Managing oily skin
Oily skin is common and there are treatments that can help.
If you have oily skin, you could try washing with:
- a mild soap, a gentle cleanser or a soap-free face wash, with room temperature water
- an oil-free soap.
It may help to use a light moisturiser after washing.
Try to avoid hygiene or skincare products that:
- contain alcohol
- are oil-based (called comedogenic). Try water-based ones instead
- irritate your skin.
Other things which may make your skin oily include:
- stress
- hot, humid weather
- some types of medication.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist about products which could help or if you think that your medication is causing oily skin.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
This is a common condition where areas of skin with lots of sebaceous glands become red, greasy or sore. You might hear it called seborrhoeic eczema.
It can cause your skin to:
- flake
- itch
- develop thick white or yellow crusts or scales.
How seborrhoeic dermatitis looks and how serious it is can vary between people.
The condition can also look different depending on your skin colour. If you have darker skin, seborrhoeic dermatitis may not make your skin as red as it does for people with lighter skin. But you may notice scaly, lighter patches of skin appearing.
It’s not known what causes seborrhoeic dermatitis, but a type of yeast called Malassezia found on the skin may be involved. It’s not caused by poor personal hygiene.
Over half of people with Parkinson’s are affected by seborrhoeic dermatitis, though more research is needed to tell us why. Some researchers think Parkinson's causes an increase in hormones that cause your body to make sebum. This may increase the amount of Malassezia on your skin.
Areas affected by seborrhoeic dermatitis
The face is the most commonly affected area, especially the skin around the nose, mouth, and inner parts of the eyebrows.
Eyelids can become red and sensitive. This is called seborrhoeic blepharitis.
Other areas affected include the:
- scalp. In mild cases, skin can flake off as dandruff. In more serious cases, affected skin can look red and either lighter or darker than the skin around it. You may see yellow or white flaking on your skin. This can be very itchy.
- ears. Seborrhoeic dermatitis can affect the skin behind, around and inside the ears. If skin inside the ear becomes inflamed or cracked, it may lead to blockage or a feeling of fullness.
- upper lip
- front of the chest
- bends and folds of your skin. For example, under your breasts and arms, and around the groin.
Always speak to your doctor if you think you might have seborrhoeic dermatitis or any skin condition. A doctor, such as your GP or a dermatologist (a doctor specialising in skin issues), will diagnose seborrhoeic dermatitis or another condition once they know your symptoms.
Managing seborrhoeic dermatitis
Seborrhoeic dermatitis can be upsetting. Although there’s no cure, there are treatments that can control your symptoms.
If seborrhoeic dermatitis affects your scalp or beard, you can try some of the following:
- Shampoos containing the medicine ketoconazole (2% ketoconazole shampoo). GPs can prescribe these and you should speak to either your GP or pharmacist about how to use them. You can also buy salicylic acid from your pharmacy to remove scaly flakes of skin before shampooing. Ketoconazole 2% shampoo should be left on for 5 minutes before rinsing off.
- Other medicated shampoos. Look for zinc pyrithione, coal tar or salicylic acid at your pharmacy.
If your beard or scalp is very itchy, your GP may prescribe a short-term steroid cream.
For seborrhoeic dermatitis affecting your face or body, you can try some of these:
- A mild, soap-free body wash. Try a light moisturiser afterwards.
- A cream or body wash containing ketoconazole (2%). Available on prescription, you can lather these up and leave them on for 5 minutes. Once your symptoms are under control, you can keep using these (though less often), to help prevent your symptoms coming back.
- Mild steroid creams. These may reduce inflammation and soreness. Mild topical steroids (that you apply to your skin as gels or creams) can be used for short periods. Your doctor would prescribe these and offer advice on how to use them.
- Non-irritating eyelid cleansers. If your eyelids are affected, gently clean between your lashes with a non-irritating cleanser (for example, made of 1 part baby shampoo or another gentle, soap-free wash to 10 parts water). This can help remove skin flakes and reduce inflammation. Speak to your GP or a dermatologist for advice on how to do this, and let them know if it doesn’t work.
- Olive oil. This may help with mildly crusty or scaly skin.
Speak to your GP or Parkinson’s nurse if:
- your symptoms don’t improve or they get worse with treatment
- you notice signs of an infection, such as your skin oozing, bleeding or crusting over.
Avoid skin products that:
- sting
- leave your skin feeling tight
- cause redness or make redness worse
- block your pores.
Avoid shop-bought soaps and shaving creams. These may irritate your skin because of the perfumes and preservatives in them.
You should switch to non-greasy moisturising creams (emollients), like E45 cream or Aveeno. Emollients can also come as ointments, but these can be greasy, so it may be best to use creams where possible. Ask your GP or pharmacist about options which could work for you.
If you stop your treatments, your symptoms may come back. But you can always restart your treatments or try something new.
Symptoms can get worse when you’re stressed.
Read our information on anxiety and Parkinson’s.
Diet and seborrhoeic dermatitis
Some people find that certain foods make their symptoms worse. You could try keeping a diary of your diet and symptoms to see if what you’re eating has an effect.
Some research suggests that eating fruit may help reduce symptoms. Speak to your doctor about this for further advice.
Rosacea and Parkinson’s
Rosacea is a skin issue that can cause redness on your face and blushing.
Some research has suggested a link between Parkinson’s and rosacea. But further research is needed to tell us more.
A GP can suggest treatments, including creams or antibiotics.
It can help to:
- avoid hot or humid weather if you can
- cover your face in colder weather
- wear a 30 SPF or above sunscreen daily
- avoid triggers like spicy food, hot drinks or alcohol where you can.
It may not be possible to follow all of these tips at all times, and rosacea can be frustrating. But small changes, like applying sunscreen daily, can help.
Your Parkinson’s nurse can advise you about treating rosacea. They can also give you advice if your Parkinson’s symptoms are making managing rosacea more difficult.
Sweating too much (hyperhidrosis)
People with Parkinson’s can sometimes sweat too much. This can happen if your Parkinson’s drugs "wear off" (stop working as well towards the end of your dose).
You might also sweat a lot during an "on" period, when your Parkinson’s drugs are working well.
Sweating too much can be linked to involuntary movements (dyskinesia), which may make you sweat, especially if your movements are intense or last a long time. But anyone with Parkinson’s can sweat too much.
A symptom of Parkinson’s is having a reduced sense of smell (anosmia). This can sometimes make it difficult to smell things like body odour caused by sweating.
Other causes of sweating
Sweating too much could be caused by an overactive thyroid gland. This is a gland that makes hormones to help control certain things in your body, like your temperature or heart rate. Other hormone changes can also cause you to sweat. For women, the menopause can cause sweating. Your doctor will help you work out if hormone changes could be causing you to sweat more.
How to manage sweating
Sweating too much can be frustrating, especially while managing other symptoms of Parkinson’s. But there are things you can do to keep it under control.
Things you can try yourself
You could try:
- antiperspirants. These can reduce sweating (deodorants will only reduce smells). A pharmacist can give advice on stronger antiperspirants, which you can buy without a prescription
- dress shields. Also called armpit or sweat shields, these absorb sweat and protect your clothes. Look online or ask your pharmacist
- socks made of natural fibres. Cotton socks, or sports socks that are designed to absorb moisture can help. Change them twice a day if you can.
- leather shoes. Change these (or take them off) often. Try to alternate the shoes you wear each day
- absorbent foot powder in your shoes. You can buy powder from your pharmacy and use it to help fight body odour
- cotton or silk bedsheets
- loose-fitting clothes. Looser clothes will not show sweat marks
- dark or patterned clothing. These may mask sweat marks better than lighter clothes.
Try to avoid:
- heavy boots
- synthetic clothing. Avoid materials like nylon
- too much food or drink, which makes you sweat more. Alcohol, caffeine or spicy foods can make sweating worse for some people.
Speak to your GP or Parkinson’s nurse if you are sweating too much. They may change your medication or suggest other treatments.
Treatments for sweating too much
If tips like the ones above aren’t helping enough with your sweating, you may be referred to a dermatologist.
They may suggest one or more of the treatments below.
Aluminium salt is an antiperspirant. It should only be applied to dry skin at night, before going to sleep. Your doctor can explain how best to use it. They can prescribe different strengths, depending on how your symptoms are affecting you.
Anticholinergic tablets may reduce sweating. But these are not always prescribed just to treat excessive sweating, due to their possible side effects. Your doctor will explain if they are right for you.
In some cases Botox injections in your armpits can help control sweating there. But Botox may not be available on the NHS in every area of the UK.
Surgery to take out your sweat glands can reduce sweating. Surgery would normally only be offered if other treatments haven’t worked and if your symptoms are severe. After surgery, you might sweat more from other parts of your body where you still have sweat glands.
This treatment passes a small electric current through areas of skin that are soaking in warm water. It is used for the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. This may temporarily reduce sweating by interrupting the signals from your brain to your sweat glands. Your doctor will explain if this is an option for you.
Sweating too little (hypohidrosis)
Some people with Parkinson’s may not sweat enough.
Not sweating enough may put you at risk of overheating. If you don’t sweat much or not at all, particularly when you feel hot, speak to your specialist or Parkinson’s nurse.
Looking after your skin
It’s important for everyone to look after their skin, whether they have Parkinson’s or not.
This includes staying safe in the sun by:
- avoiding the sun between 11am and 3pm
- wearing sunscreen with at least SPF factor 30, and a 4-star UVA protection
- contacting your GP as soon as possible for a check up if you notice a new mole, or that an existing mole has changed. You should also contact them if you spot a sore that does not heal.
Read more about sunscreen and sun safety on the NHS website.
The British Association of Dermatology’s Patient Hub has more information on looking after your skin, including on spotting and getting advice for possible skin cancers. Visit the Patient Hub.
Our helpline and other useful contacts
Our helpline
Call our helpline free on 0808 800 0303 for advice on skin and sweating problems or any aspect of living with Parkinson's.
More information and support
For information on skin issues, dermatology services and support groups. Visit the British Association of Dermatologists website and the Patient Hub.
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Next update due 2028
If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected]