Sweat production is normal, it is part of the body temperature regulation mechanism. It doesn't happen only when body temperature increases due to exposure to environmental heat or when we exercise. Stress, anxiety and even diet can increase sweat production; Gender, age and some foods are examples of factors that influence the type of odor and/or its intensity. Sweat glands Sweat is produced by sudoriparous or sweat glands. It is estimated that each one of us has more than 2 million sweat glands. They are located in the dermis, which is one of the skin layers. There are 2 types of sweat glands, which produce different sweats: The eccrine glands, which are distributed throughout the skin of the body: They produce a more watery sweat that cools skin surface; They have the most important function of temperature regulation; The apocrine glands, which are mainly concentrated in the armpits, genital and plantar regions. They produce a more oily sweat, which is released into the hair follicles; They begin to function at puberty. When it forms, sweat has no odor. The unpleasant odor results from the action of microorganisms that normally live on the skin (the skin microbiome) and which are important for its protection. Temperature and humidity of body (armpits, genital region, feet...) are a more favorable environment for the action of those microorganisms. Problems with sweating Despite its important function, sweat can be uncomfortable and impact self-esteem and personal and professional relationships. Problems with sweating may be related to excessive production and/or an unpleasant odor of sweat. When there is consistently excessive production it can be hyperhidrosis , which affects around 3% of the population and for which there are currently several treatment options The remaining cases, which are the majority, are well or least reasonably resolved with deodorants or antiperspirants, trying to identify and control, whenever possible, the situations that aggravate the problem and, of course, adopting the necessary hygiene care. Factors known to influence sweat production and the chemical composition and intensity of body odor include: Individual factors such as race, gender and age; Characteristics (type of fibers and composition) of clothing and footwear, associated with personal characteristics; Personal habits, regarding type of diet, consumption of alcoholic beverages and tobacco and hygiene care; Climate. Deodorants The action of deodorants focuses on eliminating/changing the odor of sweat. For that: They inhibit the activity of bacteria that give rise to the bad odor of sweat and mask unpleasant odors. To do this, they have different types of ingredients in their composition, including: Inhibitors of the growth and action of microorganisms that make sweat odor unpleasant; Ingredients that mask unpleasant odors; Ingredients that absorb odors. A deodorant that is not an antiperspirant will not change the amount of sweat produced. Antiperspirants The action of antiperspirants is mainly to reduce the amount of sweat produced. To do this, they usually use aluminum salts. These compounds, used for more than 100 years for this purpose, block sweat from leaving the glands. At the same time, they reduce the local humidity which favors the action of microorganisms. Antiperspirants also have some effect on unpleasant odors, not only because they reduce sweat production, but because they also usually include ingredients that mask these odors. There is currently no scientific evidence that directly associates the use of antiperspirants with an increased risk of breast cancer due to the presence of aluminum salts in their composition. So: Antiperspirants also have a deodorant action, but a non-antiperspirant deodorant does not change the amount of sweat produced. The choice depends on each one objective and preferences, both with regard to the type of product and the way it are applied (spray, roll-on, stick, cream,…). Don't forget the basics Neither deodorants nor antiperspirants are an alternative to hygiene care. Its use to resolve issues of excess and/or unpleasant odor of sweat assumes that: Body washing (bath, shower or otherwise) is done correctly and according to each person's needs. Clothing is washed and changed frequently. Especially, underwear and other items that come into direct contact with the areas of the body that sweat the most should be changed daily. Sources: American Cancer Society. Antiperspirants and breast cancer risk . Teerasumran P, Velliou E, Bai S, Cai Q. Deodorants and antiperspirants: New trends in their active agents and testing methods . Int J Cosmet Sci 2023;45:426-43. Author: Sara Leite The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
