The sweat glands perform an important functionthermoregulation of the body and the withdrawal of metabolic products and water from it to the surface of the skin. They are similar to the coiled tubules, from which, in fact, the ducts on the surface of the skin. In humans, the number of sweat glands can reach 2.5 million. They are distributed unevenly in the body: in some places there is a large accumulation (underarms, on the palms, on the soles of the feet), but there are places where they do not exist at all. In particular, sweat glands are generally absent in men on the head of the penis. Actually, women do not have them in the same place: in the field of large and small labia.
Not only is the density of the sweat glands different (ona square centimeter of the surface of the skin can be from 55 to 400 pieces), but also the depth. There are sweat glands that are deep in the layers of the dermis, others can be located directly in the subcutaneous fatty tissue.
Exocrine sweat glands are responsible forthermoregulation and are mainly in the subcutaneous and skin layers. In the secret that they produce, 98% of water, the rest, for the most part, sodium chloride, derived from blood plasma. The work of the exocrine (eccrine) glands is controlled by the human nervous and hormonal systems. The amount of sweat produced depends on many circumstances and can vary from 250 to 800 ml per day.
Apocrine sweat glands produce the verythe secret by which each person can be identified. It is a viscous substance with a specific smell. Apocrine glands do not begin to work immediately, they are activated during puberty. The apocrine glands are larger in size than the eccrine glands, and are located mainly in the anogenital, axillary and mammary glands. They have a slightly different secretion mechanism, although they also take a small part in thermoregulation.
Most often there are two serious diseases:anhidrosis and hyperhidrosis, each of which leads to its unpleasant consequences. Inflammation of the sweat glands may develop, which is usually treated with local anti-inflammatory drugs.
Anhidrosis - This is such a pathology, when the secretion of sweat stops altogether. The reason may be any existing disease. There are 4 types of anhidrosis:
Anhidrosis can develop due to skin diseases, aging, diabetes or spinal cord injuries (if the spinal cord is damaged), as a result of hereditary diseases.
First of all, such patients should be avoided.overheating. Since the mechanism of thermoregulation is disturbed, the probability of heat stroke increases when a person is in a hot place. Physical activity is contraindicated. Treat anhidrosis with multivitamins, retinol, indifferent ointments with moisturizing characteristics.
Hyperhidrosis - This is the opposite of the previous disease.That is, sweat is released too much, and it can cause a lot of trouble. Hyperhidrosis can be localized in separate places or spread to the whole body. It can manifest itself during physical exertion or develop due to serious diseases, for example, the nervous system. More common is hyperhidrosis, localized in the armpits, on the inner surface of the palms and on the soles of the feet.
With hyperhidrosis, it is possible to remove the sweat glands using a minimally invasive subcutaneous curettage. The glands are treated with salt (solution) and sucked off through the cuts with a special cannula.
