Perspiring

Perspiring, commonly referred to as sweating, is the process by which the body excretes fluid through the eccrine and apocrine glands of the skin. It is a key component of thermoregulation, allowing heat to be dissipated through the evaporation of moisture on the surface of the skin. The primary driver of perspiration is an increase in core body temperature, which is detected by hypothalamic thermoreceptors that stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. In response, acetylcholine is released onto eccrine gland cells, prompting them to secrete a watery solution composed mainly of water, electrolytes, and trace amounts of metabolic waste.

Several factors can trigger sweating besides temperature regulation, including emotional stress, physical exertion, hormonal fluctuations, ingestion of spicy foods or caffeine, and certain medications. Apocrine glands, located mainly in the axillary and groin regions, produce a thicker secretion that, when metabolized by skin bacteria, contributes to body odor. Perspiration also plays a role in maintaining skin hydration and protecting the epidermis from desiccation.

Disorders of sweating include hyperhidrosis, characterized by excessive sweat production, and anhidrosis, the absence or severe reduction of sweat, both of which can lead to thermal imbalance and skin complications. Treatment options for hyperhidrosis range from topical antiperspirants to botulinum toxin injections and surgical sympathetic nerve interruption. Anhidrosis may require addressing underlying neurological or dermatological conditions.

In clinical practice, sweat analysis can provide diagnostic clues for conditions such as cystic fibrosis, where elevated chloride levels are detectable. Perspiration remains a fundamental physiological response essential for human homeostasis.