Exercise increases your body temperature. As a result, you sweat as your body releases salty fluid from your sweat glands, an essential function that helps keep you cool. How many sweat glands you have will determine how much you sweat, and exercise can increase this amount.
If you feel like you're sweating more than normal, you may have a medical condition called hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. Talk to your doctor if you are really concerned about perspiration.
What is normal sweating?
People are born with 2 to 4 million sweat glands, and although women tend to have more than men, men's glands are often more active. Exercise raises your body's internal temperature, causing you to sweat more profusely to keep you cool. Being physically active in a warm room or while it's hot outside can also make you sweat more. Other factors can contribute to excessive sweating, such as drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, certain medications, stress, fever, infections, low blood sugar, thyroid problems, and menopause.
How much is too much?
According to a July 2017 study published by Experimental Dermatology, a person can secrete up to four liters of sweat per hour when the body tries to cool down. However, if you are sweating excessively or uncontrollably, you may have hyperhidrosis. This condition can be localized and occur only in the palms of the hands, feet, armpits or face, or you can perspire throughout your body.
The causes are unknown, but certain activities such as exercise can trigger hyperhidrosis. This condition usually appears when you are a child or teenager, and it can continue throughout your life or improve as you get older. Although nothing can cure it, you can take steps to make it less unpleasant.
What remedies are there for hyperhidrosis?
To help control excess sweat, bathe daily and dry completely when you're done. Apply talcum powder all over your body, concentrating especially on the areas where you sweat the most. Throughout the day, but especially when you exercise, wear loose-fitting clothing made from natural fabrics such as cotton, allowing your skin to breathe easier. Put on your antiperspirant both at night and in the morning to increase effectiveness. Also consider asking your doctor about making changes to your diet – caffeinated drinks and spicy foods can make sweating worse.
Go to the doctor
If you experience a sudden increase in the amount of sweat, see a doctor. This could be symptomatic of an underlying medical condition. Also ask them about prescription antiperspirants if you think over-the-counter products are not effective. They may prescribe you aluminum chloride to apply at night, but be aware that this is a strong product that can cause irritation and itching.
