Hematidrosis (Blood in Sweat)
Hematidrosis or hematohidrosis is extremely rare. Only a handful of cases have ever reported. The condition causes a person to sweat blood, often on the face or forehead, without being cut or injured. Symptoms appear as blood droplets on the skin, bloody sweat or sweat with blood in it.
One theory behind hematidrosis is that it’s linked to the body’s “fight or flight” response. The thought is that during high stress, capillaries can rupture causing blood to seep into the sweat glands and then out onto the skin. In other cases, hematidrosis may be a symptom of a medical condition like high blood pressure. If stress is a potential trigger, addressing life situations will be important. For an ongoing hematidrosis problem, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, or meds that help control bleeding might be considered. Anxiety caused by seeing blood on the skin and related social stigma will likely also need to be addressed to help a hematidrosis sufferer.