Why sweating from stress is different and how to reduce it
Stress sweat, or sweat produced as a result of stress, is not the same as “normal sweat”.
“This is because our bodies have two distinct types of sweat glands,” explains Trisha Pasricha, a physician at the Harvard School of Medicine who has studied sweat produced by stress.
Dr. Pasricha, who also writes the “Ask a Doctor” column for the Washington Post, proceeds to differentiate between the two types of sweat glands.
“Firstly, we have the eccrine glands, which are found all over our bodies. These are the glands that cause us to sweat when we exercise or when it’s hot outside. The second type are the apocrine glands, which are responsible for stress sweat,” she explains in a related video, also offering two tips on how to manage them.
Dr. Pasricha notes that the eccrine glands, which are dispersed throughout the body, excrete sweat that is primarily water with a bit of salt. “These glands have been active since the day you were born,” she adds.
She continues: “The apocrine glands, on the other hand, start functioning during puberty. These glands are triggered by adrenaline, hence why we start sweating before a big test or when we have to give a speech, for instance. Stress sweat is a blend of fatty substances, proteins, and bacteria, which gives it a distinctive, and often stronger, odor compared to regular sweat.”
According to the Harvard-trained physician, there are two methods to manage stress sweat:
“1. Maintain your underarm hair, as it can trap oil and bacteria, exacerbating the issue. Keeping it in check will also allow your antiperspirant to adhere to your skin more effectively.
2. Importantly, apply your antiperspirant right before bed. Your sweat glands are less active at night, making it easier for the antiperspirant to block them, which in turn makes it more effective the following day.”
