Sweat: Why we can't live without it and what we can do about it
Sweat has a bad reputation, but it is vital. Each of us produces several liters of sweat per day. By producing sweat, the sweat glands contribute to the thermoregulation of your body and keep the body temperature stable. Sweating is the air conditioning system for our body.
But unfortunately sweat has a major disadvantage: when it breaks down on our skin, it develops an unpleasant body odor that is not socially accepted. Sweat stinks. That's why there are deodorants that mask the smell of sweat. However, it is better and more reliable to completely stop sweat production with an antiperspirant .
Causes of sweating
Why do we sweat?
There are countless causes for sweating. They all have one thing in common: the temperature inside the body rises and must be reduced. We actually only notice sweating when sweat production noticeably increases. Your body produces small amounts of sweat almost constantly.
Medical reasons such as illnesses are excluded
- physical exertion (sport),
- emotional tension (excitement, surprise, stress, etc.) and
- above-average outside temperatures (heat)
the most common reasons for sweating. Situations that your body can cope with well because millions of sweat glands from which sweat comes out ensure that we do not overheat even under the greatest stress and tension.
Production of sweat
How much sweat do humans produce?
We all sweat day and night and produce many liters of sweat. Even if we lie in bed all day and are totally relaxed, the human body produces at least half a liter of sweat per day. At night it is twice as much, at least one liter.
In extreme heat or physical exertion it can quickly reach six liters. In the Ironman, the toughest competition in the world, participants burn a whopping 16 liters within just a few hours.
The specific amount depends on many factors. Tall and fat people logically sweat more than short and thin people. Those who are more physically active than others also sweat more. This applies not only to athletes, but also to people who have physically demanding jobs.
In addition, a genetic predisposition can cause some people to sweat excessively. Above certain amounts it is referred to as hyperhidrosis – abnormal sweating.
Functions of sweat
Why sweat is essential for survival
- Thermoregulation
In order for the circulation, metabolism and all organs to function optimally, people need a constant body temperature. This refers to the temperature inside the body. It should be between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius. Small fluctuations are normal, but are in the decimal range. Doctors speak of an elevated temperature at temperatures as low as 37.5 degrees Celsius. From 38 degrees we have a fever.
With the help of sweat, the body regulates its temperature independently and protects itself from overheating. This is the reason why, for example, we sweat more during physical exertion than when we sit comfortably at the coffee table. The sweat on the skin evaporates and cools down the body.
- detoxification
Our body doesn't just use feces and urine to eliminate unusable metabolic end products. The skin pores are also a way out. Sweat therefore contains breakdown products that our body cannot do anything with.
- acid mantle
Sweat is good for our skin because it forms a protective coat. This protects the skin from drying out and keeps it nice and supple. The protective coat also inhibits the growth of bacteria and germs and thus ensures healthy skin flora.
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How to prevent sweat Sweat has many indispensable functions, but unfortunately it also has one major disadvantage: it causes unpleasant body odor. It's not the sweat itself that smells unpleasant. The smell of sweat only occurs when the sweat is broken down by bacteria. Sweat glands are distributed throughout the body. The unpleasant smell arises primarily in the armpits. Soummé offers a real antiperspirant that prevents sweat from coming out of the glands in this area. This means that no unpleasant smell of sweat can arise in the armpits. This is much more efficient than masking the smell with deodorant. |
Components of sweat
What is human sweat made of?
Sweat is a secretion that consists of 99 percent water. The salty taste that we have all tasted when, for example, we lick our upper lip while sweating profusely, comes from the minerals contained in body sweat. These include potassium, magnesium and sodium. They also cause the salt marks that become particularly visible on dark clothing when sweat dries.
Other ingredients in sweat include amino acids, ammonia, ascorbic acid, fatty acids, uric acid, urea, lactic acid and sugar.
Sweat is vital, but the smell of sweat can be prevented
As you can see, there are many good reasons why we sweat. Sweat is essential for keeping vital body functions running. Thanks to innovative antiperspirants like Soummé offers, no one has to smell like sweat. Because Soummé prevents sweat from escaping where it develops its unpleasant smell.
