Advertising

Underarm Sweat, What Is It All About?

| Print |

E-mail

Written by Jed Elaine

Thursday, 24 April 2008

by JedElaine

Underarms are a private matter. Having that said, it's also evident that people are increasingly fussing over their underarms, men and women alike although in different manners and to different extents. Whether it's grooming, hygiene, medical treatment, vanity or other reason or purpose, it's getting due attention nowadays.

At puberty, the underarm areas become loaded with hair follicles and sweat glands. The functions that hair and sweat serve are subtle but complex. Both basic types of sweat glands (Eccrine and Apocrine) are present and the hair works in partnership with sweat to provide protection and defense mechanism against knocks, bruises and overheating.

The basic functions of Underarm Sweat are cooling and lubrication. When sweat evaporates from the underarms, the process absorbs heat from the surrounding area thereby reducing the temperature. In wetting the surface between the arms and the body during locomotion, underarm sweat reduces the friction generated from the inherent rubbing. A component of underarm sweat (aprocrine) in conjunction with hair follicles is also secreted when the person is under stress, anxiety or duress. This type of sweat has a milky appearance and a foul odor develops when it comes into contact with bacteria.

The generation of Underarm Sweat is thus normal and necessary when it's in good working order. It's only a problem when there's excessive (Axillary Hyperhidrosis) or inadequate (Axillary Anhydrosis) underarm sweat. Between the two extremes, Axillary Anhydrosis is far more serious as apart from the resultant discomfort, it is also potentially life-threatening.

Excessive Underarm Sweat is a lot more common and affects millions of Americans. It is estimated that 1% of people has this condition in varying degrees. It can be quite mild and some sufferers are actually oblivious to their problem with underarm sweat. On the other hand, it can also be quite serious, especially when it's accompanied by excessive sweat in other parts of the body like the hands (Palmar), feet (Plantar) and face (Facial).

There are two categories of Excessive Underarm Sweat. The first category is Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis and the second one is Secondary Hyperhidrosis. The former is direct and straightforward in both effect and treatment while the latter is as depicted by name related to another underlying medical problem. Having that said, it's not necessarily sticky as when the root cause such as diabetes, thyroid and so forth is eradicated, the associated Secondary Excessive Underarm Sweat will recede in tandem.

Like other diseases or illnesses, prevention is better than cure and healthy basics go a long way in providing a sound platform in combating underarm sweat problems. A good diet, exercise and habit routine will keep you in good stead with your underarm sweat. We can't do without underarm sweat, but we can't do with too much of it either.

About the Author:

For more tips on Home Remedies for Excessive Underarm Sweat, go to How To Cure Underarm Sweat, a popular website that provides tips and resources to combat Excessive Underarm Sweat. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.