by Jack Brooks - Quickbeam LLC
Today, the most comforting slang phrase we hear is, "No
sweat!" These two words describe a complex physical and psychological process
around which a multi-million dollar industry has grown and is also pivotal to
an effective skincare
program. Perspiration, as sweating is formally known, has come to be
associated with stress, effort, heat, anger, fear, passion, disease, anxiety,
relief, and, in Thomas Edison's oft-repeated quote, "Genius, is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,"
even achievement. There are a variety of bodily functions that have become
indelibly associated with our civilization; perspiring certainly ranks among
the foremost of them. While it seems as if we are just reacting to a particular
emotion or environmental condition, the stimulus/response mechanism and
associated organs involved are following a path laid down long ago by
evolution. Demystifying what fashion society thinks of as merely a problem will
give an important perspective on the role of sweating and its relevance in your
overall skincare regimen.
Staying Cool, Calm,
and Collected
The basic biological purpose of perspiring is to cool the
body when the temperature is elevated; the rub is that our "fevered" brain,
when reacting to elevated emotional stress, triggers the "perspiration engine"
in the same fashion and sets off some or all of the approximately 2.6 million
sweat glands that share space with hair follicles and nerve endings in the dermis level of our skin. Composed of
cells in a coiled base feeding a long hollow tube that opens to the surface of
our skin, these sweat glands are triggered by the sympathetic nervous system
and surprisingly, deal with perspiration even when it isn't appearing on our
skin! There are two types of perspiration with differing properties:
-
In the "resting"
state of even temperature and no neural stimulation, cells in the straight duct
can reabsorb most of the sodium, chlorine and some of the potassium in the
primary secretion of the gland because there's enough time for this
reabsorption. The water carrier is absorbed by osmosis and recycled in the
bloodstream.
-
During exercise,
outside heat, or emotional stress, the liquid output increases and there's no
time for very much reabsorption. The sweat rises to the surface and this liquid,
while lower in sodium and chlorine, has a higher potassium content.
-
The "other" sweat
gland, which is located the armpits and lower personal regions, secrets a
liquid that also contains fat and proteins. This gives it the color that causes
armpit stains and "ring around the collar" on clothing. This perspiration,
while having no odor of its own, is affected by bacteria which produces the
disagreeable aroma that we spend so much on products to ameliorate.
The Skin Effect
We use an antiperspirant product so we won't offend people when the "other"
perspiration becomes odiferous, as is noted above. The product's aluminum-based
active ingredient chemically causes the sweat gland cells to swell, temporarily
sealing off the transporting of perspiration to the skin. While this is the
basic principle in its action, there are some important considerations for our skin's
health in choosing and using antiperspirants. Here's some factors to be aware
of:
-
What degree of
perspiration control works for you? There are deodorant-type products that have
fragrance ingredients rather than more aggressive chemicals-if you are in an
environment where you won't perspire heavily, perhaps this more passive method
may be satisfactory and prove better for your skin.
-
Per the FDA's testing standards, the more powerful antiperspirants
touting "extra strength" or "maximum strength," have shown
at best a 30 percent sweat reduction rate in most people. So don't expect 100%
elimination of perspiration from anything.
-
Keep a careful watch on the effect of any antiperspirant on the
area of application. You may have to try more benign antiperspirants, such as
natural deodorant products using flower essences.
-
There are antiperspirant products that are a natural mineral rock
containing aluminum sulfate and others that buffer the aluminum in conjunction
with skin-soothing ingredients. Remember, the blocking of perspiration must be
done with moderation; perspiring is a natural means of our bodies regulating
internal temperature.
If all
else fails, consult a reputable dermatologist for a prescription antiperspirant
that can be safely tailored to your unique requirements. No amount of
accommodating social mores is worth damaging your skin!
About the Author:
Adam is the owner of a content publishing company, Quickbeam, LLC, that teaches non-techies to make money on the Internet. Adam is an expert on a variety of topics from bridal fashions and travel to maternity and pregnancy clothing and his passion is to share his love for these topics through the written word.
Write Review 
