Sweat is produced by glands in the deeper layer of the skin, the dermis. Sweat glands occur all over the body, but are most numerous on the forehead, the armpits, the palms and the soles of the feet. Sweat is mainly water, but it also contains some salts. Its main function is to control body temperature.

Where is sweat produced?

Perspiration, also known as sweating, is the production of fluids secreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and apocrine glands.

What stimulates sweat production?

Thermal sweating is mediated predominately by sympathetic cholinergic stimulation. Sweat production is stimulated through the release of acetylcholine from nonmyelinated class C sympathetic postganglionic fibers, which binds to muscarinic (subtype 3) receptors on the sweat gland (see Figure 2(c)) [9].