Hematohidrosis – a clinical rarity

Abstract Hematohidrosis is indeed a rare and intriguing condition. It's thought to occur when the tiny blood vessels around the sweat glands rupture, leading to blood mixing with sweat. This phenomenon is often linked to severe stress or emotional trauma, though the precise pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear. Diagnosing hematohidrosis involves ruling out other possible causes of blood in sweat such as bleeding disorders, vasculitis, or other dermatological conditions. Treatment typically focuses on addressing the underlying stressors, emotional factors and ensuring that any contributing medical conditions are managed. Here, we present a case of hematohidrosis in a 17 year old male who had bleeding from several sites like forehead, face, scalp, eyes, nose and ears around six to seven times per day in the last 2 months . During hospitalization, the patient was thoroughly investigated but no clear cut etiology could be pointed out. Patient underwent skin biopsy and was diagnosed with hematohidrosis and treated with beta blockers and antidepressants. His condition had improved significantly on follow-up.