skin provides a major line of defense against various environmental
threats, including germs. Human skin produces antimicrobial
agents for defense, which can limit germ growth after injury
as a wound heals and reduce the inflammatory response to
skin disorders. Does our sweat have anything to do with
the infection-fighting properties of our skin?
A recent study in the journal Nature Immunology
focused on the germ-fighting ability of the human skin.
Researchers analyzed a new germ-fighting agent found in
the human skin - and discovered that it was based in our
sweat.The gene identified, deemed Dermcidin, was found to
be excreted solely by the sweat glands, whereby it was transported
by the sweat to the skin's surface. The gene could not be
found in of the other major bodily organs tested.
The antibiotic ability of Dermcidin was maintained
over wide pH (acidity) levels and salinity ranges that resembled
the conditions found in human sweat. Dermcidin was "highly
effective" against E. coli, fungi, and other bacteria that
can be found in fecal matter and infected water supplies.
These germs can infect your wounds and contaminate the food
You may not enjoy the sticky, wet feeling
of sweat on your skin, but the next time you break a sweat
while exercising, perhaps you'll appreciate this bodily
response a bit more. Your sweat may be eliminating the harmful,
invading microorganisms you come into contact with before
they have a chance to get into your body.
Schittek B, Hipfel R, Sauer B, et al. Dermcidin: A novel
human antibiotic peptide secreted by sweat glands. Nature
Immunology 2001:2(12), pp. 1133-1137.