The World of Perspiration

We sweat because it's actually a good thing!

Our bodies are ingenious natural wonders, so every process has a purpose – and that includes sweating. Without millions of sweat glands, we wouldn't be able to survive, or even find another person attractive. Our skin would be like a dried-out desert and a perfect entry point for bacteria and germs. If we didn't have sweat as a transport system, toxins and metabolic waste wouldn't be expelled. What sometimes feels like a nuisance to us is actually a protection and maintenance mechanism for the body. And although perspiration has a bit of a negative reputation, without it, we'd literally look old pretty quickly.

Everyone's different, and that goes for sweating too

While some people only break a sweat during intense physical exertion and in high temperatures, others just need a slightly brisk walk or a bit of excitement to get their body going and their sweat glands into active mode.

Life stages and lifestyle can also negatively affect how much we sweat, for example:

• Hormonal changes during puberty
• Stress, psychological pressure or anxiety
• Unhealthy diet, like eating too many spicy foods
• Being overweight

Throughout the day and night, we lose fluid through sweating, and with it important minerals and salts. On a hot day and during exercise, this can even amount to several litres of fluid. So, if you're a heavy sweater, you need to drink plenty to keep your body's fluid and electrolyte balance in check.

Sweating to regulate temperature

Sweating is our body's very own air conditioning system, because the evaporation of moisture on the skin releases heat. This cools the blood in the small blood vessels just under the skin, thus regulating body temperature. This is particularly obvious when we exercise. During physical exertion, our body really gets going. We get hot, our face flushes, and sweat runs down our forehead.

Or what about when you're in a sauna? As soon as you step into the chamber, your body immediately starts to sweat – the trigger here is the high external temperature, which the body tries to compensate for by sweating. So, we sweat primarily to protect our body from overheating and to keep our body temperature constant.

Sweating for healthy skin

Without sweat, we wouldn't have healthy skin – unbelievable but true! The skin's surface is covered with a film of water and oil, called the hydrolipid film. It forms a barrier against bacteria, fungi and other unwelcome invaders. Since its pH value is slightly acidic at 4.5, the multiplication of microorganisms on the skin is significantly slowed down. The hydrolipid film forms the acid mantle on our skin and is created by secretions – like sweat and fatty acids – from the skin glands. Our entire skin is covered with this acidic film, which also has an antimicrobial effect. It also keeps the skin supple and increases its moisture levels.

Body odour as a sign of attraction

Everyone has their own unique body odour, which isn't necessarily perceived as the smell of sweat. Strictly speaking, however, individual body odour is also a sweat odour, which is created by the sweat produced by the apocrine sweat glands and its decomposition. The secreted substance is like a transmitter just waiting to meet the right receiver. This is how we decide in a split second and completely unconsciously whether we find someone likeable or if we "can't stand their smell".

In men, pheromones are also released during the decomposition of sweat. This sexual attractant has only one goal: to be noticed by a woman so that the man appears more attractive and is chosen as a potential procreator. If both immune systems are very different, the offspring will be more resistant and ensure the survival of the species. Depending on how the receiver is "wired", body odour can give the green light for a passionate night, a long-term relationship, or total aversion.

So, sweating is a good thing, but as is often the case in life, too much can be a nuisance. You can read about what you can do about excessive sweating here.

First published: 12.05.2011

Updated: 27.05.2025