From rolling your tongue to wiggling your ear lobes, there are all kinds of genetic quirks that only some people can do. Another is only sweating on one side!
It sounds crazy, but some people really do only sweat on one side of their body. The condition is extremely rare and fewer than 1,000 people in the US have it.
Some people only sweat on one side
The genetic disorder is called Harlequin Syndrome, and it’s the talk of TikTok this week after a woman shared a video of herself only producing sweat on one side of her face.
“POV: You ate your twin in the womb so you only sweat on one side of your body,” she wrote on the screen.
She has a theory that she absorbed her twin in the womb, known as vanishing twin syndrome, which is what caused the syndrome as she has two different genes.
There’s no evidence to support this, but it’s sparked interest in the rare disorder, with one person commenting: “I never knew this was a thing.”
“You’re the first person I’ve met to also have Harlequin Syndrome. Wow!!! This is amazing,” said another.
What is Harlequin Syndrome?
“Harlequin syndrome is a condition that affects the autonomic part of our nervous system,” Dr. Hana Patel, NHS GP and GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness, told The Focus.
It specifically affects the part that controls our body’s natural processes such as sweating, skin flushing, and how our eyes respond to light. People with it tend to not have sweating and flushing of the skin on one side of the body, especially on their face, arms, and chest.
“These symptoms tend to be present when a person has been exercising or is very warm,” she continued. “In these situations, one side of the body sweats and flushes as it should to the situation, whereas the other side of the body does not.”
What causes Harlequin Syndrome?
Researchers are still looking into the exact cause of Harlequin Syndrome, and it is not completely understood, Patel explained. However, a report by the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center explains that it’s caused by a change in a person’s genetic material (DNA).
It’s believed to be down to a miscommunication between cells on the right and left side of your body in your autonomic nervous system, Cleveland Clinic adds. A blockage on a cell’s communication pathway could also be the cause.
The condition should not be confused with Harlequin ichthyosis, a severe genetic disorder that affects a baby’s skin. Babies with this condition are born prematurely with very hard, thick skin covering most of their bodies, MedlinePlus explains.).
The skin forms large, diamond-shaped plates that are separated by deep cracks, and these skin abnormalities affect the shape of the eyelids, nose, mouth, and ears, and also limit movement of the arms and legs.
In some cases, restricted movement of the chest can lead to breathing difficulties and respiratory failure, and affected children can also have problems eating, regulating body temperature, controlling water loss and fighting infections.
Dr. Hana Patel is an internationally recognized GP with more than 20 years of experience who works with the NHS and private healthcare in the UK, specializing in women’s health and mental health.
