Underarm Sweating
Apoeccrine Gland
Beyond the familiar eccrine and apocrine glands, the underarm hosts a lesser-known third type: the apoeccrine gland.
Apoeccrine glands are a third, hybrid type of sweat gland that develop around puberty, mainly in the underarms. They share features of both eccrine and apocrine glands and can produce a relatively large volume of sweat, so they are thought to contribute to heavy underarm sweating.
What an apoeccrine gland is
Apoeccrine glands are a hybrid sweat gland, described more recently than the two classic types. They appear around puberty and are found mainly in the underarm, developing from eccrine-like glands.
As the name suggests, they share characteristics of both apocrine and eccrine glands: they open onto the skin surface like eccrine glands but can produce a comparatively large volume of watery sweat.
Their possible role in heavy sweating
Because apoeccrine glands can secrete a high volume of sweat, they are thought to contribute to the heavy underarm sweating some people experience, including axillary hyperhidrosis. Research on them is still developing, so their exact role is described cautiously.
Why they matter for the underarm
Their concentration in the underarm is one more reason the area sweats so readily: it holds eccrine, apocrine, and apoeccrine glands together, a combination found in few other places on the body.
Frequently asked questions
What is an apoeccrine gland?
It is a hybrid sweat gland found mainly in the underarm that develops around puberty and shares features of eccrine and apocrine glands. It can produce a lot of sweat and may contribute to heavy underarm sweating.
How is an apoeccrine gland different from an eccrine gland?
Both open onto the skin surface and produce watery sweat, but apoeccrine glands can secrete a notably higher volume and are concentrated in the underarm. Research on them is still developing, so descriptions are kept cautious.
Sources & further reading
Reputable organizations with more on sweating and related topics. Offered for further reading and general education, not as citations for any specific claim on this page.
General educational information about sweating. Not medical advice, and not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.