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More on Perspiration
Eccrine sweat can vary in composition, depending on a person's state of hydration (well hydrated vs dehydrated), exercise, health status and region of the body. Besides water, which accounts for 99% of eccrine sweat, further components are sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, lactate, ammonia, amino acids, urea and bicarbonate. The gland's duct is responsible for giving sweat it's characteristic salinity. It typically removes some salt as sweat moves towards the surface. Tiny pumps that are embedded in cell membranes shunt sodium away from sweat back into the gland's cells. Chloride is also reabsorbed and follows the course of its sodium counterpart, seemingly without the need for a specific pump. This process renders the perspiration hypotonic or less salty.
Interestingly, a defect in the sweat gland's duct can give rise to a saltier or more concentrated form of sweat. This is the case in individuals that have cystic fibrosis. We talk a little more about this under the More on sweat glands tab.
For more on sweat and its salt content,
click on the video below |
More surprising is the presence of several proteins and peptides. One such protein is called dermcidin. It is thought that dermcidin may play a role in neutralizing infectious organisms in the early stage of infection. Dermcidin may also play a role in establishing the specific flora of the skin by inhibiting certain bacterial species.
This brings up an interesting question. Is sweating only involved in the process of regulating body temperature? Perhaps sweating also helps in defending against infectious pathogens. In fact there is evidence showing a correlation between sweat and skin infections in individuals with atopic dermatitis. More on this on our Sweating Matters blog.
Biomarkers or disease specific molecules can also be found in sweat. Even if they are found in very small quantities and difficult to detect, scientists are using nanoparticles that contain 'bait' components that react specifically with the biomarker they are looking for. In the near future, we should not be too surprised if perspiration becomes a fluid that is sampled to detect or diagnose certain diseases.
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