Keringat

Keringat is the Indonesian term for sweat, a watery secretion produced by sweat glands in the skin. Humans have eccrine glands, widely distributed across the body, and apocrine glands, concentrated in the armpits and groin. Sweat is usually odorless when secreted; body odor arises from bacteria acting on sweat components.

Sweat consists mainly of water with dissolved salts (notably sodium chloride) and small amounts of potassium, urea, and lactate. The primary function is thermoregulation: evaporation of sweat cools the body. Sweat also contributes to minor waste excretion and helps maintain skin hydration.

Sweating is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Eccrine glands are stimulated by sympathetic nerves releasing acetylcholine in response to heat, exercise, or emotional stress. Apocrine glands respond to hormonal signals and become active in puberty, contributing to body odor when combined with bacteria.

Medical conditions related to sweating include hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and hypohidrosis or anhidrosis (reduced or absent sweating), which can affect cooling and comfort. The odor associated with sweating primarily results from bacterial breakdown of sweat components rather than the sweat itself.