Sweating is a natural process that our body goes through to regulate our temperature. But over time, plenty of myths and legends have arisen about sweating. Here are 1 fact and 9 fables to help you separate truth from fiction.

Fact: Humans Have Two Types of Sweat Glands

It’s true that humans have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine sweat glands are the most numerous and are found all over our bodies. They’re responsible for cooling us down and getting rid of excess heat.

Apocrine sweat glands, on the other hand, are found mainly in our armpits and groin area. They produce a thicker, oilier sweat that’s responsible for body odor.

Fable #1: Sweating Detoxifies the Body

This is a common belief, but it’s not entirely true. Sweating does help remove some toxins from the body, like heavy metals and BPA. But it’s not a significant enough amount to “detoxify” your body.

Your liver and kidneys are the primary organs responsible for removing toxins.

Fable #2: Sweating Helps You Lose Weight

Sweating can make you feel like you’re losing weight, but in reality, you’re only losing water weight. Once you rehydrate, the weight will come back.

Sweating during exercise does help burn calories, but it’s not enough to make a significant impact on weight loss.

Fable #3: Sweating Indicates a Good Workout

Just because you’re sweating doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having a good workout. How much you sweat depends on a variety of factors, like your genetics, the temperature, and your hydration levels.

Sweating also doesn’t necessarily mean you’re burning more calories.

Fable #4: Deodorants Prevent Sweating

Deodorants don’t prevent sweating; they just mask body odor. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, can help reduce sweating by blocking sweat glands.

However, some people choose to avoid antiperspirants because of the aluminum salts they contain, which can be absorbed by the body and potentially cause health problems.

Fable #5: Sweating Can Cause Acne

While sweating can make existing acne worse, it doesn’t actually cause it. Acne is caused by a combination of bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells clogging pores.

Sweating can exacerbate the problem by trapping bacteria and oil against the skin, but it’s not the root cause.

Fable #6: Sweating is Smelly

This is partly true. Sweat itself doesn’t have much of a smell, but the bacteria on our skin that break down sweat can produce an odor. Apocrine sweat glands produce a thicker, oilier sweat that’s more likely to produce odor.

Fable #7: Sweating is Unhealthy

Sweating is a completely normal and healthy process. In fact, sweating can have some health benefits, like reducing the risk of kidney stones and improving skin health.

Fable #8: Sweating Only Happens When It’s Hot

You may be more likely to sweat when it’s hot, but that’s not the only time. Sweating can also be triggered by exercise, stress, anxiety, and even eating spicy foods.

Fable #9: Women Sweat Less Than Men

This is a common misconception, but it’s not true. Everyone sweats differently, and it’s influenced by a variety of factors like age, gender, genetics, and the environment.

However, men do tend to have more active sweat glands than women, so they may sweat more overall.