Sweating - What Causes It?

Sweating is the release of a liquid (mainly water and minerals such as salt) from the body’s sweat glands onto the skin. The process is also referred to as perspiration. Sweating is a natural and essential function, a result of a process known as Thermoregulation, which helps to cool the body, keeping it at its normal temperature of around 37 degrees. 

We are constantly sweating, even though we may not notice it all of the time. This is because every process our body undertakes, such as breathing, digesting and so on creates energy and heat which needs to be regulated. Perspiration occurs more in warm climates and during exercise or when we are stressed and anxious. Emotionally caused perspiration is often limited to specific areas such as the hands and armpits, while sweating caused by physical exertion or a rise in temperature, occurs all over the body.

The amount we sweat depends on two things; how many sweat glands we have, and our state of emotion or level of physical activity. One person can have anywhere between two and four million sweat glands. Women have more sweat glands then men, but sweat less because male sweat glands are more active.

The Science of Sweating