Summer is the season of sweat. When the weather gets hot, our bodies sweat to lower body temperature. However, sweating makes clothes damp and causes odors. Hands also become sweaty, making people reluctant to shake hands. What measures should be taken at the pharmacy?
In fact, sweat itself does not have an odor. Our bodies have about 4 million sweat glands. Sweat glands are divided into eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are located all over the body except for the lips and fingernails and toenails. Eccrine glands mainly release moisture as sweat. The cause of sweat odor is the apocrine glands. These are located in the armpits and eyelids, releasing fatty components with sweat. At this time, bacteria on the skin break down the fatty components in the sweat, causing the odor.
Excessive sweating regardless of the season may indicate hyperhidrosis. Some people do not consider excessive sweating to be a disease and do not seek medical help. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the prevalence of hyperhidrosis is estimated to be 0.6% to 4.6% of the total population. Hyperhidrosis can lead to complications such as eczema, dermatitis, and athlete’s foot.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency noted, “One of the causes of hyperhidrosis is experiencing stress, which can lead to sudden excessive sweating.” They added, “Experiencing unexpected sweating can create difficulties in social interactions or lead to social anxiety.”
If sweating is a concern, over-the-counter medications can be used. Driclor, which was first introduced in Korea in 1988, is a representative example. It is supplied by Haylion, a spin-off of the over-the-counter pharmaceutical sector of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the United Kingdom. Driklo contains aluminum chloride hexahydrate, ethanol, and purified water. When sprayed, it forms a thin film over the eccrine sweat glands. In simple terms, it blocks the sweat pores. Driklo primarily acts on the epidermal layer of the skin and is very minimally absorbed into the body.
Initially, it should be applied in a moderate amount every evening and washed off with water the next morning. As symptoms improve, it can be applied about 1 to 2 times a week. Applying it to wet areas may cause a burning sensation on the skin. It should be applied when the skin is completely dry. It should not be used on recently shaved or damaged skin. Hands should be washed before application and care should be taken to avoid contact with the eyes.
A similar product is deodorant, which is classified as a cosmetic. The deodorant from the German company NIVEA is well-known. It contains aluminum chlorohydrate. Aluminum chlorohydrate penetrates deep into the sweat glands and suppresses sweat secretion. Deodorants come in several varieties: spray, stick, and roll-on. When spraying deodorant, caution should be taken to avoid inhaling it.
In summer, excessive sweating also leads to worse foot odor. Foot odor intensifies due to bacteria proliferating in the dead skin cells. It is generally good to wash the feet regularly and remove dead skin. Using foot shampoo is also an option. Foot shampoos typically produce foam when sprayed. Mediheal’s foot shampoo contains urea that helps remove old dead skin. The pest control company CESCO has also introduced foot shampoo. The zinc ricinoleate ingredient used in deodorants helps eliminate odors. Foot shampoos can be found in low-cost household goods stores or cosmetics specialty shops.