Women with large breasts vs. women with small breasts… who sweats more?

A study has found that women with larger breasts sweat less overall in their breasts than women with smaller breasts.

A research team at the University of Southampton in the UK analyzed how sweat gland density and sweating rates differ according to women's breast size. The team studied 22 healthy women aged 18 to 55 with various breast sizes.

The research team calculated the surface area of participants' breasts using 3D scanning. Afterwards, the participants jogged for 45 minutes in a warm room at 32°C. The team used an infrared thermal camera to observe how much heat the participants produced and measured sweat secretion above the nipples and below the armpits. The sweat secretion and sweat gland density measurements were conducted using iodine-impregnated paper, which reacts with chemicals in the sweat when applied to the skin.

According to the analysis, the woman with the smallest breast size had up to 71 sweat glands per square centimeter of breast area, while the woman with the largest breast size had up to 10 sweat glands per square centimeter. Women with larger breasts had fewer sweat glands than women with smaller breasts, resulting in less sweating across the entire breast area. However, there was no significant difference in the amount of sweat produced under the armpits or in body temperature.

The research team analyzed that the density of sweat glands filling the skin surface varies depending on the degree of breast development during puberty.

Dr. Davide Filinzieri, who led the research, said, "Based on the results of this study, we can incorporate considerations of women's various breast sizes into sportswear design," and added, "In the future, when producing sportswear such as sports bras, we will be able to effectively address issues like moisture, stickiness, support, and skin chafing."