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Why is sweat so important to health?

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
 
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31 October 2012, 15:00

Despite the fact that sweat glands remove waste products and toxins from our body, people usually try to "cover up" the armpit area with antiperspirants to feel comfortable and not worry about the appearance of an unpleasant odor. However, sweating is very useful for our body. Let's find out why.

Sweat regulates body temperature

Sweating helps the body get rid of excess heat so that it does not boil. Sweating helps us not to overheat when we exercise, are in a sauna or in the scorching sun. The natural process of cooling the body is very important, because the inability to sweat could lead to a threat to life. There is a condition called ectodermal dysplasia - a disease in which a person cannot sweat. People with this disorder cannot put themselves in danger and therefore have to limit their activities. So be glad that you can sweat.

Clear face

Is your face covered in sweat and you dream of washing off the salty drops faster? Sweating opens up your pores, which helps reduce acne on your face. To cleanse your face this way, you don’t have to roll circles and wait for your face to sweat, just steam your face and apply a cleansing mask.

Circulation

When a person sweats, the heart rate increases and blood circulation accelerates, especially in the skin. Regular exercise and sometimes a sauna session can help improve circulation through sweating.

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Sweat fights infection

According to doctors, sweat helps protect the body from a dangerous infection - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Sweat contains nitrites, which when they reach the skin's surface are converted into nitric oxide, a powerful gas with a wide range of antibacterial and antifungal effects.

Sweat will help cleanse the body of toxins

Research shows that sweat contains many different types of compounds, including small amounts of potentially toxic metals such as cadmium, aluminum, and manganese. This is the main reason why sweating is considered detoxifying.

Sweat will help you recover

Sweating is your body's way of telling your immune system to wake up and get to work fighting off an attack from an infection. The same thing happens when you exercise or when it's hot outside, sweating as a way to regulate your temperature increases your metabolic rate.

Sweat curbs asthma

Sweat curbs asthma

Sweating can help protect against developing asthma. And the more you sweat when you exercise, the better, the lower the risk of asthmatic wheezing. It turns out that people with asthma tend to produce less sweat, tears, and saliva than those who don’t have breathing problems.

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