Sweat is a most efficient natural moisturizer providing protective immunity at points of allergen entry

Abstract

Although there is a growing acceptance that sweat could play a detrimental role in various allergic skin diseases, the possibility that sweat is also involved in maintenance of skin hydration and skin-specific immune responses has not been acknowledged. We initially describe physiological role of sweat in both maintaining skin hydration and thermoregulation. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with objective evidence that sweating is intimately linked to vital stratum corneum barrier function and usefulness of application of moisturizers in clinical care of allergic skin diseases. This review also covers how sweating disturbance would leave the skin vulnerable to the development of various allergic skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis. New therapeutic approaches would specifically target such sweating disturbance in these allergic skin diseases. Keywords: Atopic dermatitis, Basal sweating, Impression mold technique, Inducible sweating, Leakage of sweat