Yep, Stress Sweat Is A Thing – Here's Why It Happens & How To Stop It

Yep, "stress sweat" is a thing, folks, and if you think it smells worse than a stuffy subway car on a hot, summer day, you're certainly not alone. Below, we'll walk you through the science behind stress sweat and what you can do about it, stat. 

Ready for a quick biology lesson? You actually have three types of sweat glands1, says board-certified dermatologist Cynthia Bailey, M.D., founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care, and each has a distinct type of sweat. 

First, you have the eccrine glands: These are your main sweat glands, and they cover almost all of the skin on your body but are most concentrated on your palms and soles. 

Now, they can activate when you're stressed—for example, when your palms grow sweaty when you're nervous—but it's not really considered "stress sweat." After all, it's not like your clammy hands give off a putrid odor. 

"Apocrine glands are our version of scent glands. Skin bacteria break the secretion down enzymatically to create body odor, especially in the armpits," Bailey adds. "The greater the fear, the greater the fear sweat, meaning that there is a dose response relationship between fear intensity and fear sweat intensity2." 

"It produces a salt-water secretion that empties into hair follicles of the armpit," says Bailey. "It develops at about eight to 14 years of age and represents as much as 45% of the sweat glands in the armpits." While multiple scientists have noted that this type of gland exists, we need more research to fully understand its development. "Their role in fear sweat is unstudied," notes Bailey. 

What's more, "Studies have shown that fear sweat is not easy to mask with fragrance6," says Bailey, which is understandably frustrating when you're trying to find a deodorant that, uh, works. "Other indicators of stress, such as facial expression, can be manipulated and controlled, but fear sweat can't," she adds. That, too, might be evolutionary, as you're able to tell when another person is lying about a certain risk. 

Stress sweat's evolutionary purpose sounds neat and all, but unless you're sprinting away from a saber-toothed tiger, you probably want to find ways to mitigate the stench. We hear you: 

Why is this info important? Well, when you understand the actual reasons behind B.O., you'll be more equipped to stop it in the first place—rather than using deodorants that wreak havoc on your delicate microbiome. 

Starches and powders, like arrowroot or rice starch, are more sensitive-skin-safe ways to absorb moisture; botanical extracts, like ​​garcinia mangostana peel extract and magnolia bark extract, also have strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which can be beneficial at balancing the microbiome in favor of good bacteria. You can find a list of our favorite natural deodorants here. 

You may also want to find ways to manage your stress, which will undoubtedly reduce your stress sweat. It's easier said than done, of course, but experts do have their tips and tricks to reduce in-the-moment panic before a big event or outing (think breathwork hacks, grounding techniques, and the like).

Stress sweat is very different from sweat produced from heat or activity—those glands respond to adrenaline then secrete a substance that signals a threat. Instead of wrecking your skin microbiome with harsh deodorants and antiperspirants, it's important to treat the armpit area (and your mental health) with the utmost care; then the stress sweat may become far less noticeable.