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No Sweat! Pointers for Perspiration

By Krista Elliott

Are you sweating bullets over a project into which you've put blood, sweat, and tears? No sweat, you've got this! 

Sweating, or perspiring, is such a universal physiological phenomenon that it's turned into a common way to say that you're putting physical or mental effort into a task. 

The thing is, some people barely sweat a drop even if working hard, while others become drenched solely from nerves or even a modicum of effort. 

What is sweat and why do we do it? Why do some people sweat more than others? And how can you control excessive sweating? 

The Science of Sweat

One thing you may not have known is that there are actually two types of sweat glands: Eccrine and apocrine.

What's the difference?

Eccrine glands are pretty common and are found all over your body, but mostly on the palms of your hands, the soles of your feet, and on your forehead. These glands are your body's coolant system, basically. When you're too warm, your brain sends signals to these glands to get to work, where they release sweat. The sweat goes onto your skin, where it evaporates, cooling you down. 

Apocrine glands are a little different. They're the ones found mostly under your arms and at your groin. They get activated by your body temperature as well, but they have another trigger: Stress and hormones. So when your armpits are drenched before that first date, you have your apocrine glands to thank. Fun fact: These glands ALSO produce bacteria to break down that sweat. The result? Body odor. Another thing to thank them for. (Apocrine glands = worst wingman EVER.) 

Cool as a Cucumber

OK, so we all have sweat glands. Why are some of them lowkey, while others are trying to make Niagara Falls look like a paltry trickle? Well, like pretty much every bodily function, we have to account for the fact that no two people are the same, and no system exists in a vacuum. So how much you sweat can depend on your age and sex, genetics, the weather (obviously), your size, and your fitness level. People who are fit and slender tend to sweat less, but oddly enough, they sweat earlier when exercising, simply because they're used to the routine of exercising and have been conditioned to kick in when the sneakers are laced up. Heavier folks tend to sweat more, due to feeling the heat more keenly, and due to the extra effort their body exerts in moving around. 

Do you sweat buckets unexpectedly and without any seeming cause? You may have hyperhidrosis, caused by overactive sweat glands. Fortunately, a wide range of treatments exist, from prescription antiperspirants to Botox, which blocks the nerves that kick-start your sweating. 

Sweating can be inconvenient and embarrassing, but in most cases, it's manageable. And it's something we all do, so ... try not to sweat over it too much, OK?

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