Sweating

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Skin layers

Overview

Treatment

Sweating

Definition:

Sweat, also called perspiration, is a salty liquid produced by the sweat glands.Sweating is an essential function that helps the body stay cool.Sweatis commonly found under the arms, on the feet, and on the palms of the hands.

Alternative Names:
Perspiration
Considerations:

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How much you sweat depends on how many sweat glands you have.A person is born with about two to four million sweat glands.The glands start to become fullyactive during puberty. Women actually have more sweat glands then men --the men's glands are justmore active.

Because sweating is the body's natural way of regulating temperature, people sweat more in when it's hot outside.Peoplealso sweat morewhen they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.

If sweating is accompanied by fever, weight loss, chestpain, shortness of breath, or a rapid, pounding heartbeat, talk to a doctor. These symptoms may indicate an underlying problem, such as hyperthyroidism. Excessive sweating may also be a symptom of menopause.

See also:

sweating - absent

sweating - excessive

Common Causes:

Warm temperatures
Fever
Menopause
Overactive thyroid gland
Low blood sugar
Infection
Cancer (sweating at night without an obvious cause)
Emotional orstressful situations
Exercise
Spicy foods (known as "gustatory sweating")
Drugs, including antipyretics, some antipsychotics, sympathomimetics, caffeine, morphine, alcohol and thyroid hormone
Withdrawal from alcohol or narcotic pain killers

References:

Sweat. Dorland's Medical Dictionary. 28th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Company; 1994:1617.

Drip or Dry? Dermatology Insights. 2002;3(1):12. Available online at: http://www.aad.org/NR/rdonlyres/66F5C772-07E5-4839-A8D1-868108C58F99/0/DIspring02.pdf#page=12 (accessed May 12, 2005).