There have been some hot days this August just gone, and as usual, people are bound to have perspired/sweated. Whatever you try to do, the bottom line is that people get damp during this period. Though this shouldn’t have any negative implication. As a matter of fact, if you think about it, sweat is meant to cool the body. This is exactly what Dermatologist, David Pariser from Norfolk says concerning sweat. According to him, sweat works exactly the same way that air conditioning does. That is, it cools the host as the moisture disperses from the body.

Apart from this cooling function, he says sweat also performs other minor functions like the balancing of the electrolytes of the body. Body electrolytes refer to minerals which assist the body in sustaining its functions. However, the huge preponderance of the reason for sweating is known as thermal regulation. It is also important to point out the fact that it is normal for everybody to sweat. But the fact still remains that some people sweat more than others. People suffering from anhidrosis, which is a dangerous health condition caused by the damage of nerves, and some people on certain medication, may not sweat.

Another fact mentioned by Pariser is that the male gender usually sweats four times more than female counterpart. And in addition to this fact, people with bigger stature sweat more than people with small stature. It is also important to note sweating does not flush nutrients from the body, unlike the case of dehydration. Sweat is also odourless. Odour occurring when you sweat is caused when oils or sweat produced (more so in the groin or armpits) are broken down by bacteria on the skin. It is not strange to discover sweat stains on clothes and if care is not taken, the stain may become permanent.

There are some tips you can follow to help you prevent this. Usually, sweat stains are due to the combination of the salt in sweat and chemicals in the antiperspirants you use. It is advisable to allow the antiperspirant to dry up on your body before dressing. It is also best to clean your garments immediately after you remove them. This is because it is easier to get the sweat away before it dries off on the cloth. When washing sweat off light fabric, use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and water. Soak for thirty minutes and wash as usual. And on dark fabric, use white vinegar and water and soak for thirty minutes before washing.