Sweat Glands

Sweat glands, also referred to as sudoriferous glands, are exocrine glands responsible for the secretion of sweat-an odorless, watery liquid containing small percentages of salts that is significant in regulating body temperature and maintaining healthy skin.

1.0Types of Sweat Glands

1. Eccrine Sweat Glands

• Location: All over the body. Eccrine glands are most abundant on the palms, soles, and forehead.
• Structure: They are simple coiled tubular glands.
• Function: Its chief function is to control body temperature by producing water and electrolytes, primarily sodium chloride.
• Activation: Activation due to increase in heat, emotional stress, and physical activity.

2. Apocrine Sweat Glands

• Location: Found primarily in certain regions, such as armpits, groin, and areola surrounding the nipples.
• Structure: Larger than eccrine glands; complex structure
• Function: Their secretions are a thick milk-like consistency that contain proteins and fatty acids; these secretions are also often associated with body odor if metabolized by bacteria on the skin.
• Activation: Primarily activated by emotional stress or hormonal changes like puberty.

2.0Anatomy of Sweat Glands

1. Eccrine Gland Anatomy

• Secretory Coil: It secretes sweat in dermis.
• Duct: It carries sweat to the skin surface.
• Innervation: Eccrine glands are innervated by the sympathetic nervous system; neurotransmitter is acetylcholine.

2. Apocrine Gland Anatomy

• Coarser Ducts: It opens into hair follicle instead of directly into skin
• Mechanism of Secretion: Sweat is released along with the cell membrane fragments (known as "decapitation secretion").

3.0Functions of Sweat Glands

• Thermoregulation: Main functions of eccrine sweat glands are to cool the body through evaporation. As water lost through sweat evaporates off the skin surface, it takes the heat with it.
• Excretion: Sweating is an excretory function of the waste products that include urea, ammonia, and salts. This helps in detoxifying the body.
• Hydration of the skin: Sweat contributes to moisture but excessive sweating results in dehydration.
• Pheromone Production: Apocrine glands are also responsible for scent messaging and social intercourse by the production of pheromones.

4.0Regulation of Sweat Glands

• Neural Control: The sympathetic nervous system is the main sweat gland control.
• Humoral Regulation: Humoral agents, like adrenaline, among others linked to stress, stimulate salivation by increasing the amount that is produced sweat.
• Physical Factors: External factors such as temperature, and percent relative humidity determine the rate of the dripping.

Health Implication

• Hyperhidrosis: This is the condition that leads to excessive sweating, which affects daily activities and lives of such people and triggers social anxiety. The treatments available for hyperhidrosis include antiperspirants, medications, and surgical options.
• Anhidrosis: It usually is the reduced ability to sweat, which may lead to overheating and heat-related illnesses. Such may be due to some medical conditions or possibly because of certain medications.
• Skin Infections: Excessive sweating allows for bacteria and fungi to thrive because of the moisture, which brings about irritation of the skin and infections.
• Heat Illnesses: Sweat gland failure leads to heat exhaustion and the more dangerous heat stroke.

5.0Blocked Sweat Glands

• Blocked sweat glands can cause several skin problems, including heat rash, acne, and folliculitis. 
• To treat and manage these problems properly, it is essential to understand their causes and symptoms.

Causes of Blocked Sweat Glands:

• Excessive Sweating - The function of sweat glands becomes overactive, and its production is excessive, which results in blockages.
• Hot and Humid Weather - High temperatures and moisture may combine with sweat-dirt and dead skins, hence affecting the pores.
• Tight Clothing - Wearing too tight or not so breathable fabrics can trap the sweat, thus leading to delayed evaporation and thus increasing the chances of blocked glands.
• Overuse of Heavy Moisturizing Creams or Oils Cosmetics - Too much application or use of heavy creams, oils, or other cosmetics may clog the sweat gland due to improper application or unfitness in the skin type.
• Lousy Hygiene - Infrequent cleaning leads to an accumulation of sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells, which increases the chances of a blockage.
• Skin Diseases - In diseases like eczema or psoriasis, proper peeling of dead cells by the skin is impaired, leading to blocked glands.
• Hormonal Alterations - Hormonal changes during puberty or menstruation are some instances of changes that may disturb the working of a sweat gland, hence increasing the chances of a blockage.
• Some Medication - Some medications, especially those that influence sweat response or skin condition, might be the cause of blocked sweat glands.

Blocked Sweat Glands Symptoms

• Rash - Red bumps or patches on the skin, often appearing to be pimples or heat rash.
• Itching or Burning Feeling - An uncomfortable feeling in the affected area, which worsens when in heat or sweating.
• Swelling - The affected area can experience minor swelling around the blocked glands and might appear with raised skin areas.
• Pimple-like Blisters - May appear as small, pus-filled bumps if the sweat glands become infected.
• Heat Sensitivity - Is sensitive to elevated temperatures and/or exercise. 
• Malodor - Can become identified by an unusual odor from bacteria that's consuming the trapped sweat inside the sweat glands.

6.0Conclusion

• In contrast, the inner components of the integumentary system are sweat glands. 
• The roles-thermoregulation, excretion, and overall health of the skin-make them important for patients with numerous sweat-related health issues. 
• Most importantly, sweation has been more important in understanding the rules behind the physiological regulation of their functionalities than hitherto thought. 
• There is still much that needs to be accomplished in studying sweat gland biology itself and its relations with health and disease.