Sweating is a very natural part of far infrared therapy. 

Far infrared therapy is an incredibly effective form of heat therapy because it warms the body internally without damaging the skin. When your body temperature rises, your body has to work to bring the temperature back down, which means you’ll be pumping blood, burning calories and, of course, sweating. Sweating is a great thing because it is the physical evidence you need to know that your body is working hard, but what is the point of sweating? There are actually two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.

Eccrine Sweating

There are thousands of eccrine glands throughout the body, and their job is to regulate body temperature. When your body temperature rises, your eccrine glands are stimulated by your nervous system to release sweat. Sweat released from the eccrine glands is used to cool off the body, and it is made of mostly water but it also contains sodium and other substances.

Apocrine Sweating

The apocrine glands are located primarily in the groin and underarms. While apocrine glands can be stimulated by an elevated body temperature, they are also triggered by other things, such as hormonal fluctuations, anxiety and stress. The apocrine glands also produce bacteria that are responsible for breaking down the sweat. These bacteria cause the odor that is associated with sweat.

Now that you know why we sweat and how far infrared therapy stimulates sweat, it’s time to learn about how sweat is beneficial. Stay tuned for our next blog to learn about the benefits of sweat.