Summer already feels like a distant memory, right? Even though the weather has changed, you’re still producing sweat. We’re here to give you a little background info on why you might be feelin’ stickier in colder months and what to do about it.

Why Do We Sweat At All?

Even though sweat can be annoying, it’s one of the many ways your body is lookin’ out for you.  The two primary reasons you sweat are to lower your body temperature and to flush waste. Let’s explore them both.

Sweating Lowers Your Internal Temperature

We’ve touched on this topic in a few articles before, but a quick refresher on why you sweat never hurts. Sweating is one of the primary ways the body regulates temperature. When your internal temperature reaches a certain point, your body releases moisture. The release and eventual evaporation produce a cooling effect.

Sweating Flushes Excess Chemicals

You might have heard the phrase “sweating out the toxins.” Sweat does carry bad stuff out of the body, although “sweating out the toxins” isn’t exactly scientific. True toxins are removed by the liver, not by sweat. However, sweating can push out excess minerals, which helps your balancing salt levels.

So Where Does Winter Sweat Come From?

1. You’re Wearing More Layers

To avoid that chilly office or expensive heating bill, you might be reaching for some extra layers. And if you’re anything like us, you probably opt for too hot rather than too cold. So when your body heats up, you resist the cold and burrow into that toasty sweater. While you might not sweat as you do in the middle of summer, your body is still working to lower your temperature through perspiration.

2.  You’re Drinking Too Much Caffeine

To fight the darker mornings and to warm up, you might be reaching for an extra cup of coffee or caffeinated tea. While this will definitely put a little pep in your step, it also increases your body’s sweat production. If you combine this with cranked temperatures and extra layers, you might find yourself a little more sticky than you’d expect in cold months. 

3. Your Blood Sugar May Be Low

Excess sweating can be caused by low blood sugar. When blood sugar levels are low, the body releases of hormones, which in turn, produces sweat. If this is something you’re experiencing, your body may be signaling that you’re in need of nutrients.

Keeping Dry in Colder Months

As tempting as it might be to grab your heaviest fleece when it gets cold, you might opt for a lighter layer. Try adding two or three layers over that outfit instead of one heavy layer. Doing so gives you more options than scalding or freezing. Besides, it’ll give the chance to show off more of your wardrobe.

Don’t get too reactionary with the thermostat either. It might be tempting to pump the temperature up past your regular choice just because it feels colder, but of course, your body is sweating based on the heat it’s experiencing, not the temperature you’re reacting to.

Lastly, don’t skip out on your deodorant! As we’ve just gone over, there’s still plenty of reason to sweat when it’s cold. If you’re still feelin’ sticky in winter, reach for your trusty deodorant.