Sweat is salty because glands release a small amount ofsodiumalong with water and other minerals when you perspire.
This can put you at risk forhyponatremia, in which you have low levels of sodium in your blood.
Why Is Sweat Salty?
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Exercise Intensity
Studies show that increasing how hard you workout makes your body temperature go up.
Cystic Fibrosis
Salty skin is a hallmark symptom of cystic fibrosis.
Medication
Certain medications cause excessive sweating, a condition known as drug-induced hyperhidrosis.
These medications include the following:
Does Eating Salty Food Cause Salty Sweat?
People with salty skin may also notice dried white salt crystals on their skin or clothing.
Is Dehydration Related to Salty Sweat?
However, unchecked, excessive sweating and loss of sodium can cause hyponatremialow sodium levels in the blood.
No needles are required, and it is considered the most reliable test to diagnose cystic fibrosis.
The test measures the amount of chloride (a component of salt) in a person’s sweat.
The sweat is collected and sent to a laboratory to measure how much chloride is in the sweat.
People with cystic fibrosis have more chloride in their sweat than those without it.
Scientists and fitness professionals also conduct similar sweat tests on athletes to help them personalize fluid and electrolyte replacement.
In some cases, it may be sparked by cystic fibrosis.
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American Lung Association.Cystic fibrosis symptoms.
Cheshire WP, Fealey RD.Drug-induced hyperhidrosis and hypohidrosis: incidence, prevention and management.Drug Saf.
2008;31(2):109-126. doi:10.2165/00002018-200831020-00002
Columbia University.What to do about salty sweat stains.
Hackensack Meridian Health.Why is my sweat so salty?
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.Summertime tips.
Stanford Medicine.The basics of CF.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.Sweat test.
Baker LB.Sweating rate and sweat sodium concentration in athletes: a review of methodology and intra/interindividual variability.Sports Med.
2017;47(Suppl 1):111-128. doi:10.1007/s40279-017-0691-5
