Health Wellness Is Sweating Good for You—Besides Cooling You Down? Experts Explain Here are the health benefits of sweating and why it's good for your skin, heart, and more. By Rozalynn S. Frazier, C.P.T. Rozalynn S. Frazier, C.P.T. Rozalynn is an award-winning, multimedia journalist, NASM-certified personal trainer, and 10-time marathon runner, living in New York City. She's been writing health and wellness content for Real Simple since 2020, covering everything from nutrition to mental health to stretching. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 21, 2024 Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Hadley King, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.Dr. King is a highly sought after dermatologist in New York City, where she has been treating patients for almost twenty years. She has won numerous awards including Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor, Top Doctors New York Metro Area, New Beauty Top Beauty Doctor, and RealSelf Top Doctor. Learn More Fact checked by Emily Peterson Fact checked by Emily Peterson Emily Peterson is an experienced fact-checker and editor with Bachelor's degrees in English Literature and French. Our Fact-Checking Process Sweating can be good for you in more ways than one. While keeping your body temp in check is impressive, it isn't the only natural and healthy benefit of eccrine sweat. We spoke with some health experts to learn more about what sweating does, how it helps us, and how it can sometimes be harmful to our health. Corey L. Hartman, MD, is the founder and medical director of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Sarah Everts is a science journalist, a journalism professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and the author of the The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration. Getty Images 01 of 09 Regulates Body Temperature We all know this sweating health benefit, but let's reiterate. Sweating is a natural bodily function that helps regulate your body temperature, explains dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD. Eccrine sweat, the sweat we're talking about here, is the salty kind sourced from the watery parts of the blood and is released from the 2 to 5 million eccrine sweat glands across your skin's surface. "This is the stuff that floods out when our body temperature rises to help cool us down," notes Sarah Everts, a science journalist and journalism professor at Carleton University. (The other kind of sweat is produced in the armpits from sweat glands that become active at puberty.) 02 of 09 Supports Your Heart Sitting in the dry heat of a sauna—which can range in temps between 150°F and 195°F—is without a doubt a sweat-inducing event. As the sauna raises your body temperature, your body works overtime to cool itself down by sweating. In fact, during a sauna session, you can secrete about 1/2 kilogram of sweat. And you'll be better for it. Here's why: A 20-year Finnish study published in Jama Internal Medicine found that people who sweated it out regularly in a sauna (think four times a week) not only had lower sudden cardiac death but lower fatal coronary heart disease, fatal cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. Bonus benefit: A study in the Journal of Human Hypertension revealed that as little as 30 minutes spent in the sauna was also linked to a decrease in blood pressure. 03 of 09 Induces Endorphins No, seriously! When you're hot, your heart picks up its pumping pace. "Hot blood from the interior can swoosh past the veins near the skin, get cooled down by sweating, and then circle back to cool the interior," Everts explains. "This workout for your heart releases happy hormones, like endorphins, that give you a biochemical rush of joy and catharsis." Your sweaty self can also make those around you feel happier, too. In a 2015 study, men watched video clips intended to induce fear, happiness, or a neutral emotional state. They collected sweat samples afterward and then exposed women to them. The result: "happy sweat" sniffers exhibited traits of happiness, such as a genuine or Duchenne smile, which is marked by the upward turn of the corners of the mouth, the lifting of the cheeks, and the crinkling of the skin around the eyes in a way that creates crow's feet. Those who sniffed the fear-soaked sweatpads exhibited facial characteristics associated with terror. 04 of 09 Helps You Get Fit If you're working out and your sweat is on the heavier side—we're not talking excessively, though, because that type of sweat is a sign of hyperhidrosis—give yourself a pat on the back. "Athletes active typically sweat sooner and more voluminously than inactive people, and more than the athlete would have prior to starting training," explains Everts. "That's because athletic bodies learn that when this individual gets active, they really get active, and it's best to start the cooldown strategy pronto." A PLOS ONE study confirms this. When researchers evaluated a group of long-distance runners along with sedentary folks by having them engage in cycling sessions, the runners in the bunch not only got sweatier sooner, but they also activated more sweat glands, resulting in a more profuse outpouring than their nonactive counterparts. 05 of 09 Moisturizes Skin Sweat is known to cool the skin, bring toxins to the surface (some but not all, since detoxing is your liver and kidneys' job), and give the skin a glow, according to Hartman. That luminosity is due to the fact that those water droplets seeping from your pores act as a moisturizer (and for much less money than your favorite beauty buy). Research shows that sweating can increase and maintain skin hydration, preventing inflammatory skin diseases. Also, sweat contains traces of urea, a known humectant (a substance that retains or preserves moisture). Long story short, sweating is good for the skin, but be sure to wash your face and body as soon as you can post-sweat to avoid breakouts and other skin irritation. Despite its benefits, leaving your skin drenched in sweat for a long time can have a detrimental effect. "Allowing excess sweat to sit on the skin, or worse, on the skin and [blocked] by sweaty clothing, can cause acne breakouts, encourage infection, and worsen folliculitis or inflammation of the hair follicles," Hartman says."Skin bacteria love a warm, wet environment and thrive when your skin is hot and wet. These bacteria then accumulate in hair follicles and can cause pus bumps and inflammation that can be itchy, irritating, and lead to hyperpigmentation if not treated aggressively." 06 of 09 Reduces Acne Sweating has the potential to reduce acne so long as you clean your skin after you sweat. As we mentioned, sweating naturally hydrates the skin's surface, moisturizing it. In addition, the salt and minerals in sweat also act as a natural exfoliant to remove dead skin cells and prevent the buildup of bacteria, dirt, and debris. Sweat also contains a naturally antimicrobial peptide (dermcidin), which can kill bacteria that cause breakouts and other skin conditions. However, this is only true if you wash your face after sweating. Once you've sweated out the impurities through your pores, wash them away as soon as possible. This prevents them from caking up on the surface of your skin and clogging your pores all over again. 07 of 09 Reduces Risk of Infections Sweat glands release antimicrobial peptides that help prevent some unhealthy microbes growth from growing, Hartman says. "These antimicrobial peptides serve as one of the first lines of defense on the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) and can help bolster our immunity by effectively killing unhealthy bacteria that can lead to certain infections or viruses," Hartman explains. Although there isn't research showing that the peptides will prevent you from getting sick with something like a cold virus, doctors believe the peptides may help lower your risk of getting an infection, he says. 08 of 09 Lowers Risk of Kidney Stones Sweating helps reduce salt and calcium buildup, which contributes to kidney stones. However, sweating only helps lower your risk of kidney stones if you are properly hydrated, Hartman says. Be sure to drink plenty of water during your workouts because dehydration can lead to kidney stones. 09 of 09 Improves the Lymphatic System Yes, sweating can be good for your lymphatic system. This is because it may facilitate the elimination of waste and toxins. Inflammation and fatigue are symptoms of a clogged lymphatic system (a buildup of lymph fluid is called lymphoedema). Therefore, sweating can help ease these symptoms when it rids your body of them. Frequently Asked Questions Does sweating increase metabolism? Sweating itself does not raise your metabolism. However, the more calories you burn from being active, such as by working out, the more you boost your metabolism. In fact, muscular exercise alone increases your metabolism by five to 15 times the resting rate. Does it matter if you sweat from exercise or a sauna? Sweating from exercise or from a sauna can both be good for you. However, when you sweat from exercise, you may also be building muscle or burning more calories from the activity itself. Sweating in a sauna, on the other hand, won't build muscle. Make sure to incorporate regular strength training into your routine. How much sweating is too much? There really isn't a "normal" amount of sweat. However, people with a condition called hyperhidrosis may sweat excessively without any causes, such as exercise or high temperatures. Hyperhidrosis can be a symptom of another medical condition, or it can happen without any causes. Is it unhealthy to sweat too much? Sweating is a necessary bodily function. However, hyperhidrosis can be a sign of medical conditions such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease. Sweating excessively—even in cool temperatures or without physical exertion—can be a sign of a bigger health concern. If sweating starts to impact your daily life or cause skin issues like irritation and infections, talk to your doctor. 7 Possible Reasons Why You're Getting Night Sweats—and How to Find Some Relief Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Khan, H. et al. "Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events." JAMA Internal Medicine. April 2015. Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, et al. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(4):542-548. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187 Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK, Zaccardi F, et al. Acute effects of sauna bathing on cardiovascular function. J Hum Hypertens. 2018;32(2):129-138. doi:10.1038/s41371-017-0008-z de Groot JH, Smeets MA, Rowson MJ, et al. A sniff of happiness. Psychol Sci. 2015;26(6):684-700. doi:10.1177/0956797614566318 Lee JB, Kim TW, Min YK, et al. Long distance runners present upregulated sweating responses than sedentary counterparts. PLoS One. 2014;9(4):e93976 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093976 Shiohara T, Mizukawa Y, Shimoda-Komatsu Y, et al. Sweat is a most efficient natural moisturizer providing protective immunity at points of allergen entry. Allergol Int. 2018;67(4):442-447. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2018.07.010 "Is Sweating Good for Your Skin?" U.S. Dermatology Partners. Aug. 2022.