Stop Underarm Sweat |
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 April 24, 2008 |
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by Jed Elaine
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 two main functions of Underarm Sweat are the following: 1) to regulate the temperature in the region when it gets heated up through physical exertion or surrounding factors and 2) to provide lubrication so as to lower friction when arms rub against the body. The underarm hair plays a role in increasing the surface area for the sweat (eccrine) to evaporate over thereby making it cooling better. The sweat brought through by the Aprocrine sweat glands has no known purpose. What is known about it though is that bacteria feed upon the milky secretion and subsequently discharge waste which is the cause of odor associated with underarms.
Hence, underarm sweating is natural and normal when healthy people are subjected to their expectant conditions. This can go wrong by having too much (Axillary Hyperhidrosis) or too little (Axillary Anhydrosis) of it. Of the two conditions, Axillary Anhydrosis is generally much more serious. Full-fledged medical attention must be summoned quickly as it’s 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).
Excessive Underarm Sweat is further categorized into Primary and Secondary Axillary Hyperhidrosis. Primary Excessive Underarm Sweat exists on its own while its Secondary counterpart is basically the manifestation of another medical problem like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, malaria, tuberculosis and so forth and will disappear with the cure of the underlying ailment.
Yes, underarm sweat is not a bad thing. By and large if we are on-the-ball with our diet, exercise and lifestyle habits so to speak, chances are we will have no issues with underarm sweat. Even if indeed there’s a problem brought on hereditarily, simply staying honest with our hygiene can prove to be the greatest remedy.
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