During the Corona crisis the Belarusian leader prescribed sport, sauna and vodka to beat Covid-19 by sweating it out. Everyone “knows” that when you sweat your pores release toxins from the body – but is this true?
Unfortunately, no.
It’s a myth that your body uses the skin as an excretory organ. Sweat is 99 percent water and contains only very small amounts of salts, urea, and carbohydrates, all of which are natural by-products of bodily processes. While a tiny amount of fat soluble heavy metal toxicants have been clinically detected in sweat, the liver and kidneys remove far more of these bad boys than sweat glands.
Don’t believe me?
After 45 minutes of exercise the amount of toxicant detectable in sweat was less than one-tenth of a nanogram. The horror. 😱 “Ah” you cry “but if that’s the case why does sweat get stinky?” Good point stinky. It’s that 1%. The sweat glands associated with hair follicles in our axillary and groin regions release some fats along with water in sweat. When broken down by skin bacteria, these substances are the cause of that characteristic ripe smell.
And…as we are an acne company, lets talk spots.
Sweat does not cause acne.
Mic drop.🎤 In fact, some studies have suggested that sweating is actually anti-bacterial. If you are breaking out post exercise, it’s not sweating that’s to blame – it probably acne mechanica or heat rash. That combination of heat, pressure or friction from rubbing skin, headbands, hats, clothing, backpack straps, and golden Lycra pants can make skin get inflamed and angry.
This doesn’t mean don’t wash though, letting fats and bacteria party on your skin isn’t good either – both for the skin and for those around you.
