Stop Underarm Sweat
04/24/2008 Odor Control No Comments

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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Control Underarm Sweat
04/24/2008 Odor Control No Comments

Underarms are seldom discussed but that doesn’t mean they’re often neglected. Look around at the women folk and you’ll notice that a majority of them have shaven underarms. That’s underarm care within women on display right there. Men too are catching on and many a scent on them indeed emanates from their underarm deodorant.

Underarms are a sweaty business. As such, they entail high maintenance and can be prone to hygiene or medical problems if they are not accorded with proper care. The underarm regions are endowed with high concentration of sweat glands (both eccrine and apocrine) and hair follicles and can easily get messy through their routine functions.

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.

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