10 facts about sweat that'll blow your mind

Sweating is a bodily function that happens to all of us, everyday, so you’d think that we’d all know a lot about it, right? But in actual fact the pool of knowledge doesn’t often extend past knowing that it’s wet, sometimes smelly, and can help to regulate your body temperature. And believe it or not, there’s actually a lot more to sweating than you may realise, in fact there are ten things you probably didn’t know about sweat…

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #1

Humans have between 2-4 million sweat glands and less than one per cent of those are under your arms. Therefore, it’s ok to stop the sweat under your arms as the rest of your sweat glands will do the job of regulating your body temperature if need be.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #2

Sweat itself is odourless. It’s the bacteria on the skin that mingles with it that produces body odour.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #3

Sweating from exercise and heat and sweating from stress are very different. When it’s hot or you’re exerting yourself physically your body reacts to your rising temperature and tries to cool you down by perspiring. Stress sweat, on the other hand, is caused by a rush of adrenaline and cortisol to the blood stream, resulting in a raised heartbeat, tensed muscles and instantaneous sweating in the armpits and pubic region.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #4

Stress sweat smells the worst. Stress sweat is produced by the apocrine glands, which are usually in the areas with lots of hair, like the armpits, groin and scalp. These areas are quite oxygen deprived, which means they house more bacteria, making the sweat more prone to smelling.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #5

Sweat actually prevents deodorants from being absorbed into the skin. That’s why it’s recommended that you apply deodorants at night when your sweat glands are less active and your skin is drier, instead of in the morning when you may have already started sweating.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #6

An average person sweats approximately six litres per day. People with a strenuous job can sweat up to 10 litres, whereas others may only sweat up to one litre.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #7

Men sweat 40 per cent more than women, but women have more sweat glands. Men’s sweat is also saltier than women’s.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #8

The saying ‘sweating like a pig’ is actually a pointless way to describe a sweaty state. Pigs don’t sweat that much at all – they bathe their body in mud to cool down, that’s why they smell!

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #9

During his life, King Louis XII of France only took two baths. Back in those days, people covered their sweat and smells using perfumes, oils and spices.

FACTS ABOUT SWEAT #10

Hippo sweat is red and cows can only sweat through their noses. Gross!

Did you know there was so many interesting facts about sweat? Have you ever tried Mitchum Clinical Deodorant?

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Love bug 3 Jul 2020 9:58 PM

Loved this it was such a fun read. Didnt ever think night time was the best to apply deodarant

Miramarmari 18 Feb 2020 8:34 PM

Cows sweat comes out of their noses!

Sootyhere 9 Jul 2018 8:14 AM

Oh dear Hippos sweat is red! Lucky they spend their time in the rivers to wash it off. That's crazy. Interesting facts.

Shop A Everyday 2 Jun 2018 11:29 PM

I can;t get by without my mitchum, I exercise and sweat so much every day

Shop A Everyday 3 Feb 2018 12:23 AM

I have sweated bucket loads this week after exercising, I think its because of the humidity

Sweety7 22 Dec 2017 10:51 AM

Interesting read.

cam987 10 Nov 2017 8:07 PM

no wonder i smell so bad when i'm hot and stressed in a test hahahaha

You beauty 3 Nov 2017 8:31 PM

Very interesting and informative. Best practice is to shower regularly, wear clean clothes and stay hydrated. People smell for various reasons.

Rpear 3 Nov 2017 7:19 AM

It's true that sweat doesn't smell . I sweat sooo much at the gym or just in summer in general if I'm working . It can be a nightmare here at 38+ for summer if your not in the pool or ocean haha! But I will rarely smell . My deodorant is rexona roll on . Every time . It's awesome. My partner works outside and sweats heaps out there but he doesn't smell either! He is one clean guy tho! Some people don't even look sweaty but they stink so bad from ages away so it's def not the actual sweat... Diet must also play a role I think .

skincare junkie 26 Sep 2017 6:38 PM

So, hubby read an article that about 1.7% of the population has no sweat odour (bacteria don't grow in the sweat) and I am that 1.7%

onlyoni 12 Aug 2017 7:32 PM

Well, you learn something new every day.

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Likes 1

Miss19 28 Jul 2017 12:41 PM

Only two baths?! Dear God I can't imagine what people must have smelled ike

BeautifulJusty 19 May 2017 6:06 AM

Nice article update

Goddess..... 21 Apr 2017 7:20 PM

I didn't know all of this, Thanks BH.

Shop A Everyday 20 Nov 2016 4:23 PM

It makes you feel very healthy when you sweat

Shop A Everyday 30 Aug 2016 2:23 PM

I went for my run this morning and sweated heaps, Mitchum is good

Neel8888 17 Jul 2016 3:13 PM

That was one dirty King.. Seriously though.. 2 baths?!

skincare junkie 2 Jun 2016 7:52 PM

Sweat six litres a day?!?!?!?! No way. I don't even drink that much water

itslinda 5 Apr 2016 3:44 PM

Great article

annieleex 3 Apr 2016 10:54 PM

Great article!

talk-a-lot 1 Apr 2016 8:32 AM

Facts about sweat interesting. I do know sweat can be embarrassing at times so using a great deodorant like Mitchum is the way to go.

Shop A Everyday 11 Nov 2015 1:23 PM

Yes I always seem to sweat so much

Shop A Everyday 29 Aug 2015 12:36 AM

Pigs sweating is funny, I use it a lot

Petal 3 Aug 2015 1:46 AM

I prefer to use a natural deodorant, even if it means I have to reapply it throughout the day. I don't expect a natural deodorant to stop sweating - that's a natural function of the body that I don't want to suppress.

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