What Are The Symptoms Of Hay-Wells Syndrome?

Sensitivity To Heat

Hay-Wells syndrome patients often exhibit the symptom of abnormally developed or absent sweat glands in the skin. These abnormalities result in hypohidrosis or a condition where a patient tends to sweat less than normal. A healthy individual's body uses the process of sweating to cool down its internal temperature. The mechanism works by secreting fluid and salt through the sweat glands to the surface of the outer skin layer. When the fluid and salt are excreted, they take body heat with them. The fluid on the skin is then evaporated into the air, taking the excess body heat with it. Individuals with Hay-Wells syndrome with affected the sweat glands cannot implement this natural cooling process of sweating properly. This inability makes these patients more sensitive to heat than healthy individuals because their body has no way to rid itself of excess heat. It is not uncommon for those affected by Hay-Wells syndrome to experience frequent episodes of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.