Sweating

So we now know that to regulate our body temperature we sweat – the body’s natural cooling and temperature regulation system. (Please note sweating is also sometimes called perspiration or transpiration and as such these terms are interchangeable). Water is the primary constituent of sweat and it is a natural coolant. As we sweat, it evaporates off your skin when exposed to air, drawing heat away from the body and ultimately lowering body temperature back to normal limits. Apart from water, the other main components of sweat include small levels of minerals and chemicals such as ammonia, urea and lactate. However, the constituents of sweat vary based upon what type of sweat gland they have been secreted from. 

Sweat Glands

There are around 2-4 million sweat glands in the human body, covering the vast majority of the body surface. There are two main types of sweat glands in the human body: Eccrine sweat glands and Apocrine sweat glands, and this is where sweat is secreted. 

Eccrine Sweat Glands: These glands are located almost all over the body, but their density is different in different areas of the body. The highest concentration of these glands is found on the scalp, palms of the hands and soles of feet. They are not associated with hair follicles and release sweat directly on to the skin surface. Sweating from eccrine sweat glands is ‘normal’ sweating (also known as sensible sweating/perspiration) and this form of sweating is the key source of cooling in the human body (thermoregulation). It is a clear fluid, primarily comprised of water, salt and other trace elements. 

Apocrine Sweat Glands: These glands mostly exist in the armpits and around the genitals and are associated with hair follicles. These glands are larger than eccrine glands, but do not contribute much to body cooling in humans. Sweat produced from these glands is associated with the characteristic body odour of humans. This is because these sweat glands produce a fluid that is acted upon bacteria with the by-product being an unpleasant smell – body odour. This fluid may be slightly cloudy and also contains proteins and fatty acids. It is also thought that secretions from these glands may also contain pheromones – a chemical marker designed to attract the opposite sex. 

What Affects The Amount We Sweat?

We now know what sweat is and how it is produced but what controls how much we    sweat? All humans sweat in response to heat and also in cases of emotional distress such as  anxiety, nausea or pain. Everybody sweats in different amounts, with men naturally sweating  more than women. It is perfectly normal to sweat and it is a fundamental process in the  human body. However, in certain circumstances some people sweat excessively. Excessive  sweating can be a very difficult ailment to deal with and can affect every aspect of your life  from social interactions to professional life. This medical term for excessive sweating is  ‘hyperhidrosis’ and in the following pages we are going to discuss and learn more about  hyperhidrosis and what you can do to treat this condition and live a sweat free life!