Gservo
30th January 2003, 05:18 AM
The average human has about 2.3 million sweat glands embedded in their skin. These glands excrete water to regulate the body's temperature and during the course of a normal day will push out around 0.5 – 1.5 litres (1 –3 pints) of moisture. Upping the surrounding temperature increases the flow. Just a fifteen-minute sauna will produce a full litre of sweat. Perspiration has other functions too. It rids the body of toxic by-products such as urea, lactic acid and heavy metals. The hippopotamus doesn't have any true sweat glands because it relies on bathing to regulate its massive body. Instead it secretes a sticky pink oil that acts as a sunscreen and moisturiser for its sensitive skin.