Nine myths and one truth about sweat

Nine myths and one truth about sweat

The experts of the Hellenic Dermatology & Venereology Society (EDAE) dispel some of the most common myths and explain when sweating signals something pathological.

Myth: Sweat causes bad breath
The truth: The human body has two main types of sweat glands (secretory or merocrine and exocrine or apocrine), which produce different types of sweat, which are almost odorless. But when the sweat produced in the armpits and groin combines with the bacteria that normally exist on the skin, then a characteristic odor develops. Daily bathing, using deodorants and removing hair from the armpits and/or groin can help reduce it.

Myth: Untrained people sweat more
The truth: The exact opposite is true. Sweat production is increased in athletes so that they can regulate their internal temperature well while training or competing. The average person has 2 to 4 million sweat glands, producing about half a liter of sweat per day. This is vital for survival because sweating is the body's natural thermoregulatory mechanism, which protects it from overheating. Therefore, sweat is produced whenever the body needs it.

Myth: Only obese people sweat excessively
The truth: It's a fact that overweight people tend to sweat more than thin people, but excessive sweat production can also be caused by a disorder called hyperhidrosis. People with it sweat 4 to 5 times more than normal, either because their body has this tendency by nature (the condition is called primary hyperhidrosis) or because of underlying problems, such as taking various medications and certain health problems (from alcoholism and diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis and hyperthyroidism), which cause so-called secondary hyperhidrosis.

Myth: We should avoid antiperspirants because they cause cancer
The truth: They neither cause cancer nor Alzheimer's disease, as many believe. The competent scientific organizations (American Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Association) in opinions they have issued state that with the existing scientific data these diseases cannot be associated with antiperspirant products, especially those containing aluminum salts as an active ingredient.

Myth: Antiperspirants are only suitable for underarms
The truth: You can use them on any part of the body that sweats a lot (from the palms and soles to the face, chest and groin) but first consult your dermatologist and test the product you have chosen on a very small skin area.

Myth: Deodorant and antiperspirant products should be used in the morning
The truth: Sweat production is at its lowest at night and this allows the active ingredients in these products to more easily enter the pores and prevent sweating or prevent the growth of sweat and bacteria in the morning when you start moving. . Therefore it is better to use them after your evening bath.

Myth: A little talc in the armpits "cuts" sweat
The truth: Talcum powder isn't particularly effective at reducing sweat, except that once it gets wet it will form an annoying mass that will stain your clothes. Instead of talcum powder, it is better to use antiperspirant products.

Myth: Men have more sweat glands
The truth: Women have more sweat glands, but the myth stems from the observation that men sweat more. But this is because their own sweat glands are more active.

Myth: The armpits have the most sweat glands
The truth: The soles of the feet have the most sweat glands, but because they're usually covered when we're not sleeping, we don't realize how much they sweat.

Truth: Hyperhidrosis can be treated
Of course it can. Hyperhidrosis is estimated to affect 2-3% of the population or 367 million people worldwide. This pathological condition can disrupt all aspects of the sufferer's life (from career and personal relationships to emotional well-being and self-image), because it causes very disturbing symptoms even when the circumstances do not warrant it (the most typical are stains on clothes, armpits). To deal with it there are many ways that are applied according to the incident.
SOURCE: www.onmed.gr
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