What is the Difference Between Sebum and Sweat

The key difference between sebum and sweat is that sebum is a substance secreted by sebaceous glands or oil glands, while sweat is a substance secreted by sweat glands.

Sebum and sweat are two different types of excretory products. They are released, excreted, or eliminated from the human body with the help of sebaceous glands and sweat glands. Moreover, both sweat and sebum are frequently present in the layer of the human skin, mostly near hair follicles. They also perform specific functions in the body.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Sebum
3. What is Sweat
4. Similarities – Sebum and Sweat
5. Sebum vs Sweat in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Sebum vs Sweat

What is Sebum?

Sebum is a substance secreted by sebaceous glands or oil glands. It is an oily, waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands of the human body. It normally coats, moisturizes, and protects the skin. Some scientists believe that sebum may also have an antimicrobial or antioxidant role. Sebum may even help release pheromones. Moreover, it is also the main ingredient of the body’s natural oils. Specifically, sebum contains triglycerides and fatty acids (57%), wax ester (26%), squalene (12%), and cholesterol (4.5%). If someone has oily skin, his or her body may produce an excess amount of sebum.

Figure 01: Sebum

Sebaceous glands cover the vast majority of the human skin. They are often grouped around hair follicles. However, they may exist independently in the skin. The face and scalp contain the highest percentage of sebaceous glands. It has been identified that the face has many as 900 sebaceous glands per square centimeter of skin. Furthermore, androgens like testosterone and progesterone help to regulate the overall sebum production. These glands are regulated by the brain’s pituitary glands. When there are more active androgens present, more sebum is produced in the human body.

What is Sweat?

Sweat is a substance that is secreted by sweat glands in the dermis of the skin. The dermis is a deeper layer in the skin. Sweat glands can be identified throughout the body. But they are most numerous on the forehead, armpits, palms, and soles of the feet. Sweat is mainly water. However, it also contains some salts. Its main function is to control the body’s temperature. This is because as the water in the sweat evaporates, the surface of the human skin cools down.

Sebum and Sweat - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 02: Sweat

Normal healthy sweating is caused by hot temperatures, physical exercise, emotional stress, eating hot or spicy foods, and as a fever symptom. However, excessive sweating causes a disease called hyperhidrosis, and less sweating causes a disease called hypohidrosis. The treatments for hyperhidrosis are weight reduction and topical application. On the other hand, hypohidrosis can be overcome by treating the underlying conditions.

What are the Similarities Between Sebum and Sweat?

Sebum and sweat are two different types of excretory products.
Both sweat and sebum are frequently present in the layer of the human skin and mostly near the hair follicles.
Both play very important functions in the human body.
They are released, excreted, or eliminated from the human body with the help of two different types of glands in the human skin.

What is the Difference Between Sebum and Sweat?

Sebum is a substance that is secreted by sebaceous glands or oil glands, while sweat is a substance that is secreted by sweat glands. Thus, this is the key difference between sebum and sweat. Furthermore, sebum specifically contains triglycerides and fatty acids, wax ester, squalene, and cholesterol. On the other hand, sweat specifically contains water and some salts.

The below infographic presents the differences between sebum and sweat in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Sebum vs Sweat

There are different types of glands in the human body. Sebaceous glands and sweat glands are two types. Sebum and sweat are two different types of excretory products produced by the above specific glands present in the human skin. Sebum is an oily substance that is secreted by sebaceous glands, while sweat is a watery substance that is secreted by sweat glands. So, this is the key difference between sebum and sweat.

Reference:

1. Pedroja, Cammy. “What Is Sebum?” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. Rekstis, Emily. “What Is Sweat Made of, and Why Does It Happen? 17 Facts.” Healthline, Healthline Media.