Is your body sweating too much?

On average we sweat about 1 liter per day, but most of it evaporates so we don’t notice it. We can sweat up to 10 liters a day if we’re really hot or exercising hard.

Most people are concerned about armpit sweat, but this accounts for only 1% of our body’s perspiration.

We sweat from two types of glands:

Eccrine glands: These appear all over the body and are mainly for cooling. They cause sweat on our face and head, and are responsible for sweaty hands and sweaty feet.

Apocrine glands: These larger glands appear mainly under the armpits and are mostly active when we’re exercising or experiencing strong emotions like stress.

Women have more eccrine sweat glands than men, but men’s eccrine glands are more active, so men actually sweat more or have more hot flushes overall.

Other factors such as eating hot or spicy food, wearing clothes made out of synthetic materials, and carrying excess body weight can cause us to sweat more. In general, our bodies adapt to produce more sweat when we really need it.

Some people sweat excessively or experience hot flushes, day and night. But only 1% of people who experience excessive sweating also have a medical condition known as hyperhidrosis.

If you’re worried about sweating too much, speak to your doctor or professional medical adviser.

If you’re sweating too much and want to know how to stop excessive sweating, see how Degree can help.