What Is Sweat?

Everyone must be sweating. When we are exercising, we usually sweat. Not only during exercise, many things cause sweating.

Sometimes, we feel annoyed with sweat because it often emits an unpleasant odor. Especially if the armpits are wet from sweat, it will feel uncomfortable in the body.

What is sweat, why do we sweat and is sweating good for health?

What Is Sweat?

Sweat is a natural body fluid that contains water, salt and fat.

The human body has three to four million sweat glands scattered throughout the body.

Sweat glands are most abundant in the armpits, palms of the hands and feet.

Now, we come to know that why armpits like to get wet quickly with sweat. However, the ability to absorb sweat for each person is different. Some dry quickly when sweat comes out in the armpit area, but there are also old ones that sometimes make clothes wet.

Of course, if this happens while working or hanging out with friends, it will be very disturbing and make you feel insecure.

What is the function of the sweat glands for the body?

There are two sweat glands namely eccrine and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are watery and odorless. Eccrine glands are found on the palms of the hands, feet and forehead.

While apocrine glands are found in parts of the body that have hair follicles such as the armpits, head and groin. Apocrine glands are concentrated and contain fat.

Now, we know why the armpits must be treated so that they don't smell due to the accumulation of sweat produced by the apocrine glands.

Then, what is the function of the sweat glands for the body?

1. Maintain body temperature

The first function of the sweat glands is to maintain body temperature.

When the ambient temperature is high, the body will respond with the performance of the sweat glands to produce sweat. This is because to keep the body temperature remains normal.

If the body temperature increases and the sweat glands do not produce sweat it will cause nausea, vomiting and even fainting.

2. Lubricates skin and hair

The second function of the sweat glands is to lubricate the skin and hair.

The performance of the sweat glands is not alone but is carried out together with the skin's oil glands or sabaceous glands.

So, sweat glands and sabaceous glands will lubricate the skin and hair so they don't dry out.

3. Remove toxins from the body

Although it is still controversial about the role of sweat in removing toxins from the body, some still believe that sweat plays a role in removing toxins from the body.

In general, toxins in the body are excreted through urine and feces.

4. Fights infection

Sweat contains antibiotics or natural antimicrobial peptides and nitrites.

That way, sweat plays a role in fighting infections caused by bacteria and fungi in the body.