Skip to content
Know.itKnow.it
Create an animated lesson
On request

This article is free to read. Creating a lesson uses your daily or stored credits; review the language and settings before starting.

How does sweating work?

ScienceLesson on requestFree to read

Quick answer

Sweating works to cool your body: glands release watery sweat onto your skin, and as it evaporates it carries heat away. It's your built-in air conditioning, keeping your temperature steady when you're hot or exercising. Sweat glands release fluid onto the skin's surface.

Step by step

  1. Sweat glands release fluid onto the skin's surface.
  2. As the sweat evaporates, it absorbs heat and cools you.
  3. The brain triggers it when body temperature rises.
  4. It also helps flush out a small amount of salt and waste.
  5. High humidity slows evaporation, making cooling less effective.

People also ask

How does sweating cool you down?
Evaporating sweat draws heat from your skin, carrying it away — so the body left behind is cooler.
Why do you sweat more in humid weather?
Humid air is already moist, so sweat evaporates slowly; you keep sweating but cool less, which is why humidity feels worse.
Why does sweat taste salty?
Sweat contains salts (electrolytes) from your body; most are reabsorbed, but some reach the surface, giving the salty taste.

Part of the guide: How Your Body Works →