Sweating
Men are sweatier than women, even when you take body size into account. Scientists tested volunteers in a laboratory mock-up of a sweltering car. Men lost 250 g of sweat per hour, which was 70 g more than the women (New Scientist 1 June 2002)
About 3% of people say that they sweat excessively. Of course, we all sweat more when we are hot or anxious but excessive sweating may be partly caused by genes – 1 in 3 sufferers says that others in their family have the same problem. Sweating, accompanying hot flushes, is common in women at the menopause. Occasionally, excessive sweating can signify a medical problem (such as an overactive thyroid gland). Antidepressant drugs can also cause sweating especially of the head and neck (Dermatology in Practice 2005;13(1):24–6).
The uses of sweating
- Sweating is one of the ways we regulate our body temperature – humans rely on the evaporation of sweat to protect the body against a hot environment (most other animals rely on insulation or panting)
- Sweat helps to keep our skin moist
- Sweating of the body and hands when we are anxious may occur for a reason – to help us escape from enemies if they try to grab us
- Sweat from some areas of the body contains scents (‘pheromones’) that send secret signals to other people
- According to New Scientist magazine (10 November 2001), sweat contains a natural antibiotic, dermicidin, that helps to destroy bacteria on the skin
There are two sorts of sweat glands.
- Apocrine glands are found mainly in the armpits and near the anus. We each have about 1 million of these glands. They are really scent glands. The sweat that comes from them has a particular smell in each person, and probably includes ‘pheromone’ scents that send messages to other people.
- Eccrine glands are responsible for sweating when we are hot. We each have about 3 million of these glands. Every 1 cm2 of the back has about 60 sweat glands. On the palms and soles, there are about 600 glands per cm2.
If you sweat excessively, it is not because you have too many sweat glands or that they are abnormally large. It is probably because there is a lot of activity in the tiny nerves that control them.
Worries about sweating
Excessive sweating can be annoying in two ways.
- The sweat may show on your clothes (for example at the armpits) or give you embarrassingly sweaty palms.
- You may be worried about the smell of the sweat. Sweat from most of the sweat glands (i.e. the eccrine glands) is not smelly itself (except the pheromones, which are so subtle that we are not consciously aware of smelling them), but it quickly becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria break down sweat to produce fatty acids. It is these fatty acids that have the acrid, penetrating, pungent, ‘stale sweat’ smell. Arm and groin sweat is particularly rich in protein – a favourite of bacteria. Sweat from other parts of the body is saltier and less hospitable to bacteria. This problem can be approached in two ways: sweating itself can be prevented; or the bacteria that cause the smell can be attacked
Doctors are now becoming more sympathetic to people troubled by excessive sweating. They are realizing that excessive sweating can affect your work and social life (British Journal of Dermatology 2002;147:1218–26).
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Saturday, February 13th 2010
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Comments on this article
Posted by jason evans on 08/03/2010 at 07:28:38 am
i got problem with sweating i am at training programed i do have bath and i change my clothes and used deodorants but all day this girl upseting me is there any help nhs give me?
Posted by chris on 05/03/2010 at 02:52:29 pm
i lied bout my age. i'm now 48 but my nose has been sweating all my adult life. i didn't mind so much but it is now happening to my youngest daughter. and i know how miserable it mde me a lot of the time. don't want her to go through the same thing. any suggestions please.
Posted by Optional on 04/03/2010 at 08:15:31 pm
over sweating of palms..whats the cure?
Posted by Optional on 03/03/2010 at 10:24:01 am
l have been sweating since l was in High School, is there away that l can go for an operation to stop this excessive sweating. It's so embarrasing & now l am working.
Posted by cecy ! on 02/03/2010 at 08:16:19 pm
well wat can i say im 15 and i have an ENORMOUS sweat prolem so far i havent tried anything from websites. But im thinking of trying something today. HOPEFULLY it does work! but all i can say is that clinical deorderants do not work at all. Thanks bye bye
Posted by James89 on 28/02/2010 at 09:12:21 pm
I sweat a lot when i go out to party at night clubs, or at concerts. I'm always sweaty, especially in the neck and throat area, and arms. even the forehead and face area have excessive sweat, and my clothes stick to me. It doesn't dry until I change and take a shower.
Posted by Optional on 28/02/2010 at 02:38:31 am
i have sweaty hands and feet what could be the problem. i also have cold hands and feet what is the problem i lose weight nowadays very fast what could be the problem are there drugs that cure these problems?
Posted by meeeeeeeeeeee on 27/02/2010 at 01:22:47 pm
omg i was in sixth grade last year and we had to run a mile and wear the clothes all day and the boys would make fun of me so inbarising so now i just wear t shirts and cover then up with sweat shirt beacause within 20 mins i have swat stains
Posted by Botox on 27/02/2010 at 12:37:02 pm
I would luv to do tha botox injection on ma ampits hw much is it an were cn i go in cape town
Posted by T.G on 22/02/2010 at 05:23:29 am
hi ive been sweating all my life my hands and feet ive bought the dearest shoes and power and cream but it still no good when im on the phone or writing etc... my hands sweat that bad i could skit you on the face with the sweat my feet is realy bad to although ive about 80-90 pairs of shoes and i change my socks twice a day. I do find when my feet is dry my hands are as well. Thanks
Posted by Optional on 22/02/2010 at 01:56:00 am
Hi I really need help! I sweat so much! I only have two tops that don't show the sweat and it is really embarasing at school because I sweat through my jumper! I have tried 24, 48 and 72 hour deoderant. I have to reaply it every half an hour which slows it down but still doesent work! In pe it is differcalt because the shirts show sweat really badly. I am only 14 so I am not allowed to have surgery or botox is there anything else?! I have thought about leaving school or even wearing mens clothes which would not be good because I adore fashion! My life is over, isent it?!
Posted by Optional on 19/02/2010 at 04:15:36 am
I'm a 15 year old girl and i hate having this a carnt wear what i want and when doing PE and being at school i have to keep my jumper on which makes me hot then sweat more but its just so embarressing i've never told anyone i have this problem, im thinking i should so my mum can take me to the doctors.
Posted by F.T. on 08/02/2010 at 05:06:00 pm
Reading these entries, it's clear that many of the people in this "blog" (including myself) suffer from Hyperhidrosis. This is a cronic condition and surgery is basically the only way to treat this. You can find more info on this website http://www.hyperhidrosisweb.com/
Posted by margaretha on 29/01/2010 at 09:15:00 pm
i sweat exessively in my face and head most of the time during the day and not so often at night. can you give me more information in this regard?
Posted by troubled on 21/01/2010 at 08:45:00 pm
i sweat round the anus and when i walk it chafes me then i get a sore crevice after a bath its ok for about 4 hrs then starts again help
Posted by Anonymous on 17/01/2010 at 01:30:00 pm
I am only fourteen and i have excessive sweating under my arms its extremely embarrassing being that I'm in high school and i know everybody's looking. Its been like this since 7th grade and I'm in 9th now. What should i do ..someone please help me ?
Posted by tired of being rustrated on 17/12/2009 at 04:31:00 am
Hello, I am a thirty-four year old women who has been laughed at and ridiculed for years now because of my sweat issues. I bathe regularly but as soon as I have any type of activity I sweat horribly and it smells. What do I do?
Posted by Rex on 14/12/2009 at 03:14:00 pm
Hi, i sweat in the groin area and leave spots when i sit. I soak my trouser regularly and wet jeans too. It doesnt really smell bt i cant be myself and cant wear light coloured trousers. I cant even tuck in my shirt because it has to cover my wet trousers. Help me plsg
Posted by confusedsmell on 24/11/2009 at 03:21:00 am
I am 29 years old and since I was in 8th grade I have had an odor to me no matter what I do. I bathe and 2-3 hours later, I smell like onions. I wear deodorant, bathe constantly, body powder, and anything else I can find to help but nothing seems to work. What is this and is there a cure for this? Help!
Posted by Jenny on 12/11/2009 at 04:30:00 pm
I have excess sweating problems, and while I was preganant I found that my sweating problem doubled, however was reluctant to use the majority of my usual deodorants while I was preganant due to the chemicals in them. So found a natural deodorant to use, I tried Alvin Connor's body stick, and it was great! It didnt stain my clothes and reduced the smell. Since having my daughter I have continued to use the deodorant and feel like it has helped alot. Its really good at reducing the smell which I found was my main problem
Posted by Anonymous on 08/11/2009 at 07:34:00 pm
I am 65 and cannot take hormones. I can't understand being past menopause that my face sweats most of the time. Could there be an underlying problem notwithstanding having to live with sweating?
Posted by Jacqueline Wynn on 05/11/2009 at 03:36:00 pm
i have an excessive sweating problem it runs in my family my mum has it and so do my brothers and sisters i use loads of deodrant but it still happens.... im ebrassed to go to the doctor what shall i do?? please help
Posted by Anonymous on 03/11/2009 at 04:17:00 pm
I sweat to excess when i do any walking, it is not just under my arms but my whole body back and front which runs with sweat and soaks my clothes. Can you please advise?
Posted by sweaty betty on 01/11/2009 at 05:34:00 pm
ihad a problem with my hands and armpits sweating had operation got rid of it. but just moved the problem on my back groin and legs wish i had not botherd worse than ever now.just think ever one is looking at you.and your sweat patches
Posted by wetwetwet on 10/10/2009 at 05:17:00 pm
I sweat on my back face and head. It is awful. You have a shower and remain wet even after trying to get dry. Ive not told my friends and so i really worry about going out. I have started to avoid going anywhere now as I just cant face it. Saw dermatologist in the week and she didn't even speak to me. I was addressed as HER or SHE. Talk about rude. Even she didn't care. Just seems no hope!
Posted by Like to cool down on 29/09/2009 at 02:44:00 pm
I sweat so much of the time and mine is mostly from my head, neck and chest area. Sweat really is bad on my forehead and runs down my face. My neck gets very sweaty and then if I touch my neck it is a clammy cold feeling. I can never wear my hair down because of this. I can get out of the shower and sweat will be pouring off me by the time I get my hair dryed. Would like to know something to do about this.
Posted by KiiT-KAT'Ox on 21/09/2009 at 09:16:00 am
Hey, i have a sweat problem and i just been to the doctors about it and she told me to have a blood test done, but i quite scared i dont just sweat under my arms its my hands too, even when its freezing outside i sweat? any reasons why? x
Posted by mr brady on 19/09/2009 at 08:39:00 pm
when ever i sit down on a leather chair or plastic chair theres always a sweat mark why plus i sweat a lot from my head and neck and my hair i have short hair i sweat at my for head
Posted by Anonymous on 10/09/2009 at 08:12:00 pm
When it comes to sweating problems, no one ever talks about back sweat. I am a very petite young woman, but my back sweats way more than anyone I know. It is extremely embarrassing, because, no matter what, my shirts always end up soaking wet.
Posted by Lara on 06/09/2009 at 08:04:00 pm
I sweat in flashes everywhere on my body and I feel sweat comming down my back and neck. Would that be a hormon problem? I stoped HRT recently.
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Sweating
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Fascinating facts
Each person has 3-4 million sweat glands
At rest in a cool environment, a normal person loses about half a litre of sweat in a day
The sweat glands are capable of producing 12 litres of sweat in 24 hours
Hippopotamus sweat is red. It contains sunscreen and is also antiseptic (Nature 2004;429:363)
We can smell the sweat of a giraffe from a quarter of a mile away. The smell repels ticks (New Scientist 1 February 2003)
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