Why do I sweat so much?

Understanding what causes exessive sweating

Everyone sweats, and that’s fine — it shouldn’t stop you from living your best life. But sometimes we don’t want to... cue the floodgates of stress sweat just as we step into that big presentation!

But why do we sweat? Is our sweat healthy and normal? And what can we do to protect ourselves against odor and clamminess? Don’t sweat it! Let’s explore the facts about perspiration and discover the unlimited protection that will help to keep us cool, calm and collected.

Why do we sweat?

We need to sweat. Sweating is a natural body function — in fact, it’s an essential one that helps to regulate our body temperature.

Sweat the difference:
There’s eccrine sweat — mainly water and salt, small amounts of other minerals and natural compounds — which is odorless and helps regulate our body temperature. Eccrine sweat glands are dotted all over our body, but mostly on our palms, soles of our feet and forehead.1
Apocrine sweat is the one most of us are less wild about, as it can make us smelly (and less nice to be near!). It doesn’t have an odor itself, but the proteins and fats in this sweat are broken down by skin bacteria, and that’s what causes body odor.1 Apocrine sweat glands are found in the armpits and genital region. This type of sweat is also involved in emotional sweating triggered by stress, fear, or excitement.
Sweating too much (hyperhidrosis), and not enough (hypohidrosis), or not sweating at all (anhidrosis), can be a cause for concern.2

Excessive sweating can put a damper on your daily activities and quality of life, plus it can be an indication of an underlying medical condition (more on this below). Whereas not sweating enough can lead to overheating and heat exhaustion. This can be caused by medications, nerve damage, skin damage, and certain medical conditions — such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and autoimmune diseases.

So, if this sounds familiar, consult a healthcare professional.

Causes of sweating

We lose about a quart of sweat going about our daily lives. But various things can cause us to crank up the amount we sweat, so drink that H-2-oh! every day to stay well hydrated:

Seasonality

It’s only natural to sweat a little more than usual during the summer months — it’s our body’s way of cooling us down on a hot day. That’s probably why Google Trends data shows that searches around the topic of perspiration increase between June to mid-September in the US.6

If you've noticed that you sweat more in humid climates, there’s a reason for that. When the water content in the air is already high, sweat takes longer to evaporate, often leaving you drenched in the process. Seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, could also cause excessive sweating.7,8

High temperatures

When we’re overheated (from a fever or exercise), our body triggers the sweat impulse. Sweating cools us down as it evaporates from our skin. This prevents our body from overheating, which is dangerous as it can damage our organs and can even be life-threatening.

Why am I always hot?

If you find yourself overheating more than usual, without any obvious change in the external temperature, there could be other factors at play. Stress, certain medications and certain medical conditions could cause you to sweat or feel hotter than normal (more on each of these causes below).

Physical activities

Physical activity and exercise cause our temperature to rise, setting off our sweat response to keep our core temperature stable. When sweating profusely on a serious workout day, we can lose up to 10 quarts of the good stuff!

Emotional states

Stress can set off the sprinkler system on our faces and our armpits and give us sweaty hands. Blame the sympathetic nervous system — the one that triggers our fight-or-flight response.3 It interprets our stress as danger (even if it’s not). Our bodies respond to this ‘danger’ by giving us a burst of energy, which could cause us to overheat, so they also turn on the taps to cool us down. Unfortunately, emotional sweating can become chronic, but help is available. We also have great tips for managing stress sweat.

Foods

Ever wondered why eating that bowl of chili is making you drip? Spicy peppers trigger a rise in your body temperature, causing your cooling mechanism to kick in. Having a hot drink will have the same effect. But did you know that consuming alcohol (which dilates your blood vessels), caffeine, chocolate, MSG, and even peanut butter can also make you sweat more? Caffeine is a stimulant and can set off your sweat glands, so if this affects you, go easy on the coffee, tea and chocolate.4

It’s perfectly normal for your body to produce sweat as a response to any of the factors detailed above. However, if you find that you perspire more than usual, or with no apparent cause, it could be due to a different medical condition.

Excessive sweating: causes and how to manage it

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) says, “It’s normal to sweat when you get nervous or too hot. If you sweat for no apparent reason, you may have hyperhidrosis.”3

How can you tell? The AAD says this sweating is so excessive it can disrupt your daily life:

Your hands are so sweaty it’s hard to turn a doorknob or use a computer.
Your clothes are often soaked through, with visible sweat marks, so you have to change them frequently.
And you may develop skin infections because the skin is often wet.

This can contribute to social embarrassment, low self-esteem and stress. An estimated 3% of people in the US suffer from excessive sweating.4

Hormonal changes in menopause and pregnancy can also contribute to excessive sweating, as can certain antidepressant and insulin medications. Other medical conditions can too, including:4,5

Diabetes and hypoglycemia
Frostbite
Gout
Injury, such as head trauma
Obesity
Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
Tumor
Diseases of the pituitary gland

If your excessive sweating is affecting your quality of life, please see a dermatologist. The next best thing? A good antiperspirant.

The Unlimited solution

When you want to stay as cool and fresh as a cucumber, no matter what life throws your way, it’s good to know you can depend on Unlimited by Degree. Our newest, most technologically advanced and hardest-working antiperspirant ever (yeah, baby!) gives you up to 96 hours of protection against sweating and odor.

To launch Unlimited, we’ve partnered with Ciara to help educate Americans about why they sweat, as well as encourage them to find self-confidence. Collaborating with the ‘Goodies’ singer is a dream because she knows all about the juggle, as she told People magazine. Her hands are full with her career as a singer and businesswoman, all while being mom to three kids.

How does she keep her cool? She’s used Degree for years. "Just being conscious of [the fact that] you're sweating is a real factor — there is something about how you move if you feel you're sweating or you don't feel so secure."

Unlimited by Degree works harder so you don’t have to

Unlimited by Degree Fresh Antiperspirant Deodorant Dry Spray uses its exclusive SmartAdapt™ Tech to give you superior protection against sweat and odor for up to 96 hours, compared with the #1 clinical soft-solid antiperspirant.

It’s non-irritating and doesn't leave you with any sticky feeling or residue, whether you use spray or stick. Just apply and forget about it as you go about your day with confidence. That’s why we call it Unlimited.

Body-responsive antiperspirant tech helps daily sweat

Our SmartAdapt™ technology reacts to heat, movement and stress sweat, which ‘switches it on’. It then creates a flexible micro-barrier that adapts to your body. The result? Dry, fresh underarms and advanced protection against heavy sweat and odor when you need it most.

We believe that nothing should hold you back from living your best life, especially not sweat. Armed with the knowledge you need, and Unlimited by Degree, we’ve got you covered.

FAQs

Why am I sweating so much?

Heat, movement and stress can cause you to sweat. If you feel you’re sweating excessively, seek professional help from your doctor.

How to stop sweating

You can’t (and shouldn’t) stop sweating, as this helps to cool your body down. But you can stop unwelcome sweating and armpit odor with a high-quality antiperspirant like Unlimited by Degree, which keeps you fresh and odor-free for up to 96 hours.3