Is It Good to Sweat? 

We all sweat. A little or a lot. And we spend a lot of time and money managing sweat; antiperspirants to stop it, deodorants, and other scents to mask the smell of it. Some people even have Botox treatments to curb extreme sweat. It may leave you thinking sweat is a bad thing.

Quite the contrary: Sweat is good! It’s an essential and natural bodily function and (not to get all booyah about it) working up a good sweat will make you feel vital and truly alive. Now, we get it: There are situations where you maybe don’t want to sweat through your favorite silk blouse. And for a long time, it was considered dreadfully unladylike to sweat. Well, no more! Women sweat and - far from bad - it’s something to celebrate!

Body Temperature Regulation Is the Main Benefit of Sweating

When the body becomes too warm, either due to external heat or physical exertion, the brain signals the sweat glands to produce sweat.

Sweat is mostly made up of water, but it also contains small amounts of salt and other minerals. As the sweat evaporates from the skin's surface, it helps to cool the body down. This is because the heat energy required to convert liquid water into water vapor is taken from the body, which results in a cooling effect.

Put bluntly: If you didn’t sweat, you could risk overheating. So it’s perfectly normal to sweat when your body temperature rises through activities like:

• Exercise or exertion
• Being exposed to hotter temperatures (though some of us are more heat-tolerant than others)
• Eating hot or spicy foods (again, people have different thresholds for spicy and hot foods)
• When you’re sick and running a fever

Sweating in these cases, either a little or a lot, is your body’s way of regulating your temperature and is considered healthy. 

But There Are Other Benefits of Sweating to the Human Body

If that isn’t enough to help you feel okay with sweat, let’s discuss some of the other benefits. The health benefits of sweating have become so mainstream that people build saunas in their backyards or work out under infrared heat. We even steam our faces as part of facials. 

Let’s explore some of the health benefits:

Sweating Goes Hand-in-Hand With the Health Benefits of Exercise

Because we generally work up a sweat when we exercise you can find correlation (if not causation) between the benefits of exercise and the benefits of sweating. They include:

• Improves cardiovascular health
• Aids in weight loss
• Boosts mood and reduces stress
• Increases energy levels
• Improves sleep quality

Whether you’re working up a sweat on the dancefloor, gym or even (ahem!) in the sack all these benefits apply!

Sweating May Also Help With Muscle Recovery & Relaxation

A session in the sauna or under an infrared blanket can help your muscles recover post-workout. It’s worth noting that cold therapy also works (and some say works better) for muscle recovery. However, both offer more benefits than doing nothing!

It May Help Flush Out Toxins, Including BPA and PCB

While the whole concept of “detoxing” is controversial, there’s some promising research that shows sweating can help flush out some very nasty toxins, including BPA and PCB.

BPA - bisphenol A

A good sweat sesh may help you eliminate BPA (check out this research paper from the Journal of Environmental and Public Health). BPA (bisphenol A) is a synthetic chemical commonly found in plastics, including food packaging and water bottles. It has been linked to a range of negative health effects, including hormone disruption and reproductive issues. While there is some evidence that sweating can help flush out BPA from the body, it is important to note that more research is needed in this area.

PCB - polychlorinated biphenyls

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are a class of synthetic chemicals that were widely used in industrial and commercial applications until they were banned in the 1970s. They are known to be persistent environmental pollutants that can accumulate in the body over time. There is some evidence that sweating may help to eliminate certain (but not all types) of PCBs from the body (source).

A Regular Sauna May Boost Your Heart Health

Although this fascinating study on the Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events only included men (typical, amirite?!) it did find that those who sweated it out regularly in a sauna were at reduced risk of sudden cardiac death, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular diseases.

While there is evidence to suggest that regular sauna use may have beneficial effects on heart health, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and improved cardiovascular function. However, it is important to note that sauna use may not be appropriate for everyone, particularly those with certain medical conditions, and individuals should consult with a healthcare provider before starting a sauna regimen.

It Makes Your Skin Glow & Unclogs Pores

A gentle facial steam will make you sweat and can help to flush out impurities and toxins from the skin, which can help to reduce the occurrence of breakouts and other skin issues. It will also make the extraction of blackheads easier (though this is always best done by an aesthetician). 

In addition, sweating can help to stimulate blood flow to the skin, which can promote a healthy, glowing complexion. Increased blood flow to the skin can also help to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the cells, which can support the skin's natural repair and regeneration processes.

However, it is worth noting that if the sweat is allowed to sit on the skin for too long or if the sweat mixes with dirt and oil on the skin's surface, it can also clog pores and cause breakouts. Therefore, it is important to cleanse the skin thoroughly after sweating.

Working Up a Sweat Can Just Feel Damn Good

It can feel good when your body gives you feedback. That can include the “good kind of pain” from doing certain exercises. Similarly, sweating lets you know immediately that your workout is having an effect. 

While it can take much longer to see physical changes and benefits from exercise, sweating gives you an immediate feedback loop that you’re increasing your heart rate, your body temperature, and burning calories. But when you learn to embrace working up a sweat, this can feel like a positive feedback loop that you’re pushing your body in all the right ways! 

What Exactly Is Sweat? What Are Sweat Glands?

Sweat is clear, odorless liquid that is produced by sweat glands in the skin. Sweat is primarily made up of water, but also contains small amounts of salts, urea, and other waste products. There are two types of sweat glands in the skin: eccrine glands and apocrine glands.

1. Eccrine sweat glands: Eccrine glands are the most numerous type of sweat gland and are found all over the body, with the highest concentrations in the palms, soles of the feet, and forehead. These glands produce sweat that is mostly composed of water and salt, as well as small amounts of other substances like urea and sugar. Eccrine glands are primarily responsible for regulating body temperature through evaporation.
2. Apocrine sweat glands include the underarm sweat glands: Apocrine glands are located in the skin of the armpits and groin area. They are larger than eccrine glands and secrete a thicker, milky sweat that contains more proteins and fatty acids. The sweat produced by apocrine glands does not directly regulate body temperature, but instead interacts with bacteria on the skin to produce odor. Apocrine glands typically become active during puberty and are stimulated by emotional stress, hormonal changes, and sexual excitement.

Both eccrine and apocrine glands are important for regulating body temperature and maintaining overall health. 

Unlike eccrine sweat, which is primarily composed of water and salt, apocrine sweat contains proteins and fats that can be broken down by bacteria on the skin's surface. It’s the bacteria breaking down apocrine sweat that leads to body odor.

Fact-Checking: Some Benefits We Could Not Substantiate

Pardon the pun, but sweating is hot right now. From infrared blankets to Nordic spas and hot yoga. And while we’re clearly big fans of working up a sweat, there are some claims that we were not able to find sufficient medical literature to support. These claims include:

• Sweating promotes weight loss (you may lose weight from water, but once you rehydrate, you’ll regain it). However, you can lose weight from exercise!
• Sweating reduces the risk of kidney stones. The reasoning here is if you’re eliminating water through sweat rather than urine, your kidneys are less likely to develop stones. We could not find anything to corroborate this and in fact, being dehydrated can increase kidney stone hydration. So when you do sweat, make sure you also drink plenty of water!
• Sweating will significantly boost your immune system. The body is complicated and being active and healthy is definitely connected with a healthy immune system. While there may be connections between sweat and a healthy immune system (and healthy skin) direct connections need more research.

Okay, But Sometimes I Just Need to Control My Sweat

Roger that! There are days when you’re game to work up a sweat and let it show and other days (and events) when you want to keep a lid on sweat. Sweating it out in a hot yoga class and at a job interview are two very different situations, after all.

1. Wear breathable clothing: Wearing loose-fitting, breathable clothing made of natural fibers such as cotton or linen can help to reduce sweating by allowing air to circulate around the body.
2. Wear sweat-wicking underwear and outerwear: Fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin will help you stay dry and cool (e.g. leakproof underwear can absorb sweat as well as other liquids and Knix activewear is all sweat-wicking)
3. Use antiperspirants: Antiperspirants work by blocking sweat ducts and reducing the amount of sweat that is produced. They are available in both over-the-counter and prescription strength.
4. Or try natural deodorant: Some natural deodorants may also contain ingredients such as arrowroot powder or cornstarch which can absorb moisture and help keep the underarms dry, but they may not be as effective as antiperspirants in reducing sweat.
5. Practice good hygiene: Regularly washing the body with soap and water can help to remove sweat and prevent odor. Showering or bathing at least once a day is recommended. This will also help minimize chances of skin irritation, such as thigh chafing, and even skin infections.
6. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help to regulate body temperature and reduce sweating.
7. Avoid triggers: Certain foods, beverages, and activities, such as spicy foods, caffeine, and stress, can trigger sweating or make sweating worse. Avoiding these triggers can help to reduce sweating.

If sweating is more extreme, you should see a healthcare provider. Hyperhidrosis is a skin condition characterized by excessive and prolonged sweating that is not necessarily related to heat or physical activity. Treatments for heavy sweating may include:

1. Try iontophoresis: Iontophoresis is a medical procedure that uses electrical currents to reduce sweating. It involves immersing the affected body part in water and applying a low electrical current.
2. Explore botulinum toxin injections: Botulinum toxin injections, also known as Botox injections, are a medical treatment option for managing excessive sweating, specifically for primary hyperhidrosis. Botox injections work by temporarily paralyzing the sweat glands, which reduces the amount of sweat produced in the treated area.
3. Consider medication: Prescription medications such as anticholinergics or beta-blockers may be used to reduce sweating in severe cases.
4. Discuss surgical options: In severe cases of hyperhidrosis, surgical options such as sympathectomy, where the nerves that control sweating are cut, or sweat gland removal may be considered.

We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.