Did you know? Sweat is an evolutionary advantage that humans developed the ability to do in order to help maintain regular body temperatures and avoid overheating. One of the only other mammals capable of doing this are Hippos. Other than that animals (such as dogs) are very susceptible to overheating as all they can do is pant to help release excess body heat.
Sweat, as unsightly and uncomfortable as it can be, is a natural and healthy part of life, helping to cool the body. But excessive sweating can pose problems to your physical and sometimes even mental health.
Sweating profusely during a workout isn't uncommon. Some people may sweat more than usual when they work out due to their level of exertion, the clothing they wear, or the indoor/ outdoor temperature.
The Volume of Sweat you Produce Depends on a Variety of Factors
- Body size: Bigger people generate more heat because they have to move more body mass, so that means more heat generated and hence, more sweat. The greater surface area that comes with a larger body also requires more perspiration to cool it down.
- Anxiety levels: Sweating commonly happens as a response to fear or stress due to overactive adrenal glands, which is why you might notice increased sweating as a physical symptom of anxiety. Like typical sweat, anxiety sweat can appear all over your body, but you'll usually notice it most on the: palms. soles of your feet.
- Genetic/Medical conditions: Excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis, a condition where your body's sweat glands are overactive. It can cause you to perspire in spots where other people wouldn't, and at times that aren't convenient. About 2% to 5% of people suffer from hyperhidrosis.
The Science Behind Sweat & Skin
Proper blood flow allows oxygen and nutrients to circulate and nourish skin cells. Sweat will help the skin look moisturised and dewy. So sweat definitely has positive benefits to your skin. It moisturises and cools the skin and also helps remove toxins from your body. Regular exercise and normal sweat production have been shown to have anti-aging effects. Additionally, it even helps kill harmful bacteria on your skin's surface. But making sure to wash it all off is super important!
Hitting the shower after a workout is good for you for multiple reasons. Getting sweat off your body is essential to your hygiene. If you don’t, you’ll experience that familiar post-workout body odor from the sweat expelled through the apocrine glands in the skin.
The impurities that sweating helps flush out can stay on your skin. When the skin begins to re-absorb them, pH factors change and can lead to irritation and rash. Specifically, the ammonia and urea in sweat can cause irritation and inflammation if left on the skin too long. The sodium in sweat can dehydrate skin if left too long on the surface, and the evaporation of sweat from skin can aggravate people prone to eczema.
How to Prevent Sweat Causing Irritation
- Use antiperspirant
- Bathe daily
- Change your socks often
- Air your feet
- Choose clothing to suit your activity
- Try relaxation and breathing techniques
- Splurge on athletic clothes that thwart sweat
- Change footwear often
- Take magnesium supplements
- Keep a bottle of SkinSpring in your gym bag
What is SkinSpring?
SkinSpring is a Hypochlorous Solution (HOCl) that is naturally produced in your white blood cells (Immune Cells) as a first line of defence against pathogens, inflammation, and promotes cellular repair to damaged tissue. It is well-known for its potent anti-microbial properties, but at the same time is gentle and safe enough to use on children’s skin.
It’s a next-generation R3 Formulation that is cell repairing, fights inflammation and has anti-microbial effects on the skin. SkinSpring helps balance pH levels on the skin from sweating and kills bacteria leading to infection or immune responses like eczema or rashes. So give your skin the natural healing it needs and make sure you’ve got a bottle in your gym bag!