Sweat vs. Sebum
Main DifferenceSebum and sweat both are our body secretions and they are secreted by their special type of glands. Sweat is produced by sweat glands and sebum is produced by sebaceous glands. Both are present in the layer of skin and both sebum and sweat producing glands are present mostly near hair follicles. Somehow similar to each other still differ in many aspects like, in the type of secretions for example; sebum is mostly made up of oily or waxy substance while sweat consist of water and sodium chloride. Both of the secretions help to maintain body temperature.
Difference Between Sweat and Sebum
Sweat vs. Sebum
Sweat is produced by apocrine gland while sebum is produced from holocrine gland. Apocrine and holocrine both are the types of exocrine gland.
Sweat vs. Sebum
Sweat is composed mainly of water, salts and waste products while sebum is oily and waxy in nature.
Sweat vs. Sebum
Sweat helps in thermoregulation of the body while sebum produces a lubricating and oily layer which decrease water evaporation and helps to combat dehydration.
Sweat vs. Sebum
Sweat glands are present only in specific regions of the body like eyelids, ear, armpits, areola and external genitalia while sebaceous gland are present throughout the body except palms and soles.
Sweatnoun
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
Sebumnoun
(physiology) A thick oily substance, secreted by the sebaceous glands of the skin, that consists of fat, keratin and cellular debris.
Sweatnoun
A soldier (especially one who is old or experienced).
Sebumnoun
the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands; with perspiration it moistens and protects the skin
Sweatnoun
(historical) The sweating sickness.
Sweatnoun
Moisture issuing from any substance.
the sweat of hay or grain in a mow or stackSweatnoun
A short run by a racehorse as a form of exercise.
Sweatnoun
(uncountable) Hard work; toil.
Sweatverb
(intransitive) To emit sweat.
Sweatverb
(transitive) To cause to excrete moisture from the skin; to cause to perspire.
His physicians attempted to sweat him by most powerful sudorifics.Sweatverb
To work hard.
I've been sweating over my essay all day.Sweatverb
To extract money, labour, etc. from, by exaction or oppression.
to sweat a spendthriftto sweat labourersSweatverb
To worry.
Sweatverb
To worry about (something).
Sweatverb
(transitive) To emit, in the manner of sweat.
to sweat bloodSweatverb
(intransitive) To emit moisture.
The cheese will start sweating if you don't refrigerate it.Sweatverb
To solder (a pipe joint) together.
Sweatverb
To stress out.
Stop sweatin' me!Sweatverb
To cook slowly in shallow oil without browning.
Sweatverb
To remove a portion of (a coin), as by shaking it with others in a bag, so that the friction wears off a small quantity of the metal.
Sweatnoun
salty fluid secreted by sweat glands;
sweat poured off his browSweatnoun
agitation resulting from active worry;
don't get in a stewhe's in a sweat about examsSweatnoun
condensation of moisture on a cold surface;
the cold glasses were streaked with sweatSweatnoun
use of physical or mental energy; hard work;
he got an A for effortthey managed only with great exertionSweatverb
excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin;
Exercise makes one sweatWhat is Sweat?
Sweat is produced by sweat gland which is also called an apocrine gland, a type of exocrine gland. Apocrine has coiled tubules and a duct which help to excrete the secretions of the gland near to the hair follicle. These glands are present near the junction of subcutaneous fat and dermis. Sweat producing glands are found in specific regions of the body like armpit, areola, nipples, eyelids, ear canal, nostrils, external genitalia and perianal region. The secretions of apocrine gland is periodic and the gland secretes oily fluid rich in lipids, steroids and proteins. Sweat maintains the temperature of the body and also excretes waste products through skin. Sweat is watery in nature made up of water, carbohydrates, proteins, waste material and sodium chloride. Sweat initially is odorless but as soon as it comes in contact with bacteria it starts producing odor. Sweat is mild acidic in nature having pH of 6-7.5. Human fetus of 5 months have sweat gland distributed all over his body which after birth become localized to specific regions like armpits, areola, perianal and external genitalia.
What is Sebum?
Sebum is produced by sebaceous glands which are microscopic holocrine glands, a type of exocrine gland present in the epidermis. Sebum helps in lubrication and in controlling the temperature. It also waterproof the skin and hair. Sebaceous glands are present on all parts of our body especially on face and scalp. But our palms and soles lack sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands which are present on different parts of our body have different names like areolar glands that surround nipples, meibomian gland which are present on eyelids and Fordyce spots on cheeks, gum and lips. Sebaceous glands are found in hairy regions of the body where their excretory ducts are connected to hair follicles. Sebaceous glands which are connected to hair follicles are termed as pilosebaceous unit. Pilosebaceous unit consist of hair, hair follicle, arrector pilli muscle and sebaceous gland. Sebum is made up of wax esters, triglycerides, squalene and fat producing metabolites. Wax and squalene are only secreted by sebaceous glands of our body. Like sweat, sebum is also initially odorless and when it comes in contact of bacteria it produces odor. Sebaceous glands of human fetus during the last 3 months starts producing a protective covering called vernix caseosa. Vernix caseosa, a waxy layer that surrounds the fetus and protects it from amniotic fluid.
