Sweat: A Necessary Annoyance

August 05, 2010, By Mark Vansetti 0 comments

Being sweaty can seem like an annoyance, but our bodies sweat for a reason. When your body decides that it's too hot, sweat will evaporate or drip off your body, taking excess heat with it. In situations of extreme heat, sweating may prevent serious damage to your body.

Sweat is made up primarily of water. The salty taste comes from minerals and electrolytes. Besides the sodium, there is potassium, calcium and magnesium in most men's sweat, along with a tiny amount of urea (yes, the same stuff found in urine). The loss of water and these minerals can lead to dehydration, which is why it is important to drink a lot of fluids when you're sweating.

The average man has more than 2.6 million sweat glands, which cover pretty much the entire body except the lips, nipples and genitalia. Eccrine glands cover most of the body and release sweat directly onto the surface of the skin. Apocrine glands are found in hair follicles and produce sweat in places such as the top of the head, under the arms and in the groin area. Typically, bacteria and odor arise near the apocrine glands.

Everyone has noticed that some men seem to sweat much more than others. There are a variety of factors that affect this.

• One is simply genetics. A man's genetic code may have left him with more sweat glands, and more active ones, than the next guy.
• Another reason is weight. Since sweating is your body's way to cool itself, a heavier man with more "insulation" will become hotter faster and, therefore, require more sweat to cool.
• Lastly, being in shape typically means your body will sweat more efficiently.

One way to sweat less is to eat right, stay in shape and lose weight. Of course, most men concerned with sweating use antiperspirant under their arms. There are antiperspirants available for other parts of the body as well, some of which must be prescribed by a doctor.

Some of our habits affect the way we sweat as well. For example, bathing daily will reduce the presence of bacteria on our skin and will help reduce sweating and the odor that often comes with it. Also, experimenting with diet can make a difference. Some men are genetically prone to sweating after eating certain foods or chemicals.

Hyperhidrosis is a condition where all or part of the body produces far too much sweat, to the point of affecting daily life. It can affect the hands, feet, armpits, face or the entire body. If you believe you suffer from hyperhidrosis, you should see a dermatologist who will be able to explain the options available to curb your excessive sweating.