Perspiration

We perspire to regulate body temperature. The evaporation of sweat has a cooling effect on the surface of the skin.

We have approximately 1.6 – 4 million sweat glands dispersed all over the body. The density is higher under the arms, in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet than other places on the body.

Perspiration is a watery solution, in itself completely odourless. Despite this we often experience that perspiration has an unpleasant smell. The odour is caused by bacteria on the surface of the skin when they break down (metabolising) the components of the perspiration.

Perspiration is produced in the eccrine sweat glands, which lead directly to the surface of the skin, and in the apocrine sweat glands, which lead to the hair follicles.

Apart from temperature regulation perspiration can also be caused by stress or emotional situations. For example hormones and adrenalin can trigger perspiration.