FACTS ABOUT SWEAT, SKIN-RELATED DISEASES
AND BODY ODOUR

Our skin has two types of sweat glands: eccrine glands and apocrine glands.

Eccrine glands occur over most of the body and open directly onto the surface of the skin. Apocrine glands develop in areas abundant in hair follicles, such as scalp, underarms and genitals.

We have between 2 to 5 million eccrine sweat glands. When the body temperature rises, our autonomic nervous system stimulates these glands to secrete fluid onto the surface of the skin, where it cools our body as it evaporates. This fluid (perspiration) is composed mainly of water and salt (sodium chloride) and contains trace amounts of electrolytes – substances that help regulate the balance of fluids in our body.

Apocrine glands secrete a fatty sweat directly into the tubule of the gland. When under emotional stress, the wall of the tubule contracts and the sweat is pushed to the surface of the skin where bacteria begin breaking it down. Most often, it’s the bacterial breakdown of apocrine sweat to isovaleric acid, the chemical that gives a strong odour.

As mentioned, moist areas of the body are prone to fungal and bacterial infections, resulting in skin-related diseases such as:
 

1) Fungal nail infections
Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments such as sweaty shoes or socks. A nail infection usually begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of the nail. As the fungal infection spreads deeper, the nail may discolour, thicken and develop crumbling edges. Sometimes the nail may separate from the nail bed, and the skin around it may become red and swollen. A slight odour may even be detected.
 
2) Athlete’s foot
Sometimes sweaty feet just smell bad. That unmistakable foot smell, which occurs when sweat and bacteria mix, may or may not occur along with athlete’s foot – a fungal infection that usually begins between your toes and causes your skin to itch, burn and crack. Athlete’s foot can also affect the soles and sides of the feet, causing the skin to peel or thicken.
 
3) Jock itch
This fungal infection causes an itching or burning sensation around your groin. Red rashes may also be present on the inner thighs and buttocks. Jock itch is mildly contagious and can spread by contact or shared towels.
 
4) Bacterial infections and warts
Moist conditions can contribute to bacterial infections, especially between the toes. It can also lead to warts – skin growth caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).
 
5) Heat rash or prickly heat
This rash occurs when the pores around the sweat glands become blocked. As a result sweat becomes trapped under the skin, causing fine red spots or bumps – usually on the upper back, chest or arms. It most often occurs in hot, humid weather.