Sweat IT OUT

Perspiration the good, the bad, the sweaty. Surprising facts and helpful tips to manage your most moisture-prone state

- ALYSSA SHAFFER

Whether you're exercising, eating spicy food, or feeling nervous, your body is doing something very important-sweating, which keeps your core temperature where it should be. Just like your car, your body needs to avoid overheating or it'll conk out. You get rid of excess heat by sweating, says Michael Corcoran, Ph.D., an associate professor in nutrition and public health at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Sweat brings the heat to the surface of your skin, and when it evaporates, the heat goes with it. We're here to answer your sweaty questions.

Q Does getting dripping wet when I exercise mean I'm out of shape?

It can mean either you're out of shape or really in shape (sounds odd, we know). "Fitness is your capacity to do workand the fitter you are, the more work you can do. The more work you can do, the more heat you'll give off, and the more you'll sweat," Corcoran says. But it's also the case that an out-of-shape person will sweat a lot if they do a workout that's hard for them.

Q Can you sweat too much?

No, but if you sweat a lot (like soaking through your shirt in not particularly hot conditions), it could mean you have a condition called hyperhidrosis where you sweat excessively. It's more embarrassing than harmful (you should pay extra attention to staying hydrated, however). It's thought to largely be due to a problem with the nervous system, although other triggers (like an overactive thyroid gland or menopause) may also be at play. Check with your doctor, who can recommend clinicalstrength antiperspirants, certain medications, Botox injections (not in your face), or other treatments.

Q What causes BO?