| What To Do About Stinky, Wet Sweat
by Sarah Brown Sep 2nd 2010 2:45AM
Categories: Advice, Fitness, Ask a Fitness Expert
Dear Sarah,
When I do my cardio at the gym I sweat a lot under my armpits, and sometimes it's really stinky. I like to pretend that it is not me that stinks, but it is. I wear deodorant but it doesn't seem to mask the smell. Would an antiperspirant do a better job?
Jeanette
Dear Jeanette,
First let me say, sweat is good! Sweat itself has no odor. It's what happens when the sweat reaches the skin surface that creates 'the stink'.
Your body has over 2.6 million sweat glands, and they come in two varieties: eccrine glands which respond to heat, and apocrine glands which respond to stress. When you exercise, you heat up the body which is a form of stress, so both glands are active during exercise. It is, however the sweat that is secreted from the apocrine glands are the stinky culprits. These glands are located in your armpits and groin area and open onto hair follicles. The stink is created by two elements:
1. Sweat (watery substance containing sodium, chlorine and potassium) from these glands also secrete proteins and fatty acids -- this is what makes the colour slightly yellow. Every notice a yellowish tinge in the armpits of your clothing? It's the mix of fatty acids and proteins (kind of like you dropped a steak soaked in olive oil on your clothing).
2. Bacteria, which lives on the skin (especially in the armpits which is a warm moist environment). Mix the sweat-containing fatty acids and proteins with bacteria and together they produce 'the stink'.
The best remedy for wet and stinky armpit while exercising is this:
1. Wash your armpits pre-workout with soap and water, then rinse thoroughly. Even if you showered that morning, your body has been building up bacteria in your armpits all day.
2. Apply natural, aluminum-free deodorant. This will help add a pleasant odor to your sweat.
3. Drink lots of water, at least 8 glasses a day. A well-hydrated body will have a lower concentration of fatty acids in your sweat.
As for extreme wetness, sweat is your body's way of cooling you down, and how much you sweat is based on three important factors: hydration, room temperature and internal body temperature. An antiperspirant acts as a block to the pores of your skin and works to prevent moisture (sweat) from getting to the skin's surface. Essentially, antiperspirant blocks your body's cooling system. This is not a good thing. You are essentially holding heat in the body and raising your internal temperature, which is dangerous for your organs (your body prefers an internal temperature of 37 degrees C). In a recent article in Fitness magazine, Vincent Paolone, professor of physiology at Springfield College in Massachusetts, was quoted as saying, "It's always better not to interfere with the body's natural cooling process by blocking the sweat." Wear your wet armpits as a badge of honour from your workout.
And one more thought -- Sometimes your gym clothes can hold in a slight odor no matter how many times you wash them. I was introduced to No Sweat by my hot yoga teacher Thommy Haller, it is a fabulous biodegradable product that really helps take the stink out of your gym wear.
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