The human body regulates its temperature by sweating. Furthermore, the body responds to a stressful situation with heavy sweating. Thanks to odor-adsorbing technologies, sweating people have nothing to fear about unpleasant sweat odor in their textiles.
Whether it is during workouts, at high temperatures in the summer, or when performing strenuous physical labor – we have all been there: A shiny film forms on your forehead, and wet spots appear on your shirt or t-shirt. In other words, you are sweating. The same phenomenon occurs in a stressful situation when you have a fever or when something is extremely awkward for you. The typical sweat and body odor as an unpleasant side effect appears shortly after breaking into a sweat. But why, in fact, does this happen?
Sweat has many different functions
The body uses sweat to regulate its body temperature, which increases when it is being physically exerted, and the body secretes sweat via the sweat glands. The sweat evaporates and the body cools off, sort of like a built-in air conditioner system for the body. At the same time, the body cleanses itself via sweating and eliminates toxins and metabolic waste products1.
Sweating like a pig?
Horses and primates are animals that use sweat glands the most for temperature regulation. Other animals, such as pigs, do not have sweat glands. Pigs wallow in mud to cool themselves off.
Another function of sweat production is signaling using messenger substances, such as pheromones: The body uses this function to communicate with its environment, and the effects of pheromones on choosing a mate have been particularly well-researched in the animal world. Various studies have already indicated that the individual scent also helps determine which partner people choose2.
The human body has two different types of sweat glands: Eccrine and apocrine sweat glands. Eccrine sweat glands can be found all over the human body, and they are especially common on the hands and feet. The sweat excreted by the eccrine sweat glands are mostly made of water and approx. 0.5% salt. Apart from eccrine sweat glands, the human skin also has apocrine sweat glands, which can be found only in hairy parts of the body. They release a milky secretion that contains proteins and lipids. Apocrine sweat glands are also known as scent glands.
Differences in sweating
By sweating, the body informs us that it is stressed. This type of sweating differs from the type of sweating that we are familiar with in sports or holidays in tropical regions. If the body primarily sweats to regulate the body temperature, then the eccrine sweat glands do most of the work. For stress-related sweating, the body primarily activates the apocrine sweat glands.
Logically, the culprit for stress-related sweating in the first place is the situation that has triggered the stress or fear. For instance, a test situation, a job interview, or speaking before a large crowd can trigger stress. In these kinds of situations, our brain sounds an alarm: The autonomous nervous system comes into play and prepares the body for a potential increase in performance or a stressful situation. The nervous system accelerates the heartbeat and breathing and activates the sweat glands. Possible triggers in day-to-day life can be reduced to prevent stress-related sweating. Wherever this is not possible, it helps to wear loose clothing that lets the skin breathe, drink a lot of fluids, and to avoid products that promote sweating such as nicotine or caffeine. However, sweat can never be fully prevented3.
From sweat to a sweat odor
Sweat is generally odorless, and it takes bacteria that colonize human skin to produce the typical sweat odor. Here are some well-known ways to prevent sweat odor:
- Good body hygiene such as regularly showering or bathing
- Using deodorant
- Fresh clothing
However, frequently changing clothing has the unpleasant side effect of creating large piles of laundry. Getting rid of it costs time, money, and causes environmental emissions due to the waste water and energy that is used. Is there a simpler solution?
Odor-adsorbing technologies for textiles
A lesser-known method than doing household washes is to effectively fight odor formation right on the clothing. To that end, antimicrobial ingredients that prevent the growth of bacteria in fibers can be used. Alternative technologies that adsorb the unpleasant odors in textiles have been available for some time. Whether antimicrobial or odor-neutralizing, both technologies pursue the same goal: Textiles can be worn for a longer period of time, and consumers save time, money, and save the environment by having to wash their textiles less often. Whereas antimicrobial ingredients are regulated very heavily, odor-adsorbing technologies have the advantage that they can be freely used in all markets.
SANITIZED is a leader in odor-adsorption technology with its Sanitized® Odorex™ product portfolio.
Sanitized® Odorex™ at a glance
Sanitized® Odorex™ technology ensures that odor molecules do not adhere to the textile fibers. Furthermore, Odorex™ adsorbs and neutralizes unpleasant odors as soon as the clothing is worn. The wash-resistant efficacy against sweat odor on sports textiles was proven both in the laboratory and in comprehensive practical tests. Sanitized® Odorex™ meets the guidelines of bluesign® and OEKO-TEX®. The technology complies with all global approval requirements and is not subject to the European Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR).
Download our whitepaper to learn more:
Sources
1 https://www.avogel.ch/de/ihre-gesundheit/gesundheitsthemen/schwitzen-ist-gesund.php#:~:text=Schwitzen%20ist%20ein%20lebenswichtiger%20Vorgang,ist%20die%20einer%20k%C3%B6rpereigenen%20Klimaanlage.
2 https://www.planet-wissen.de/natur/forschung/chemie_im_alltag/pwiechemiederliebe100.html
3 https://www.stark-gegen-schwitzen.de/schweiss/formen-krankhaftes-schwitzen/schwitzen-bei-stress/
