The maturation of regional sweating patterns from childhood to young adulthood in females

Abstract Children are considered heat vulnerable, with the belief that maturation of sweating occurs throughout childhood. Indeed, young children demonstrate distinct patterns of regional sweating compared to adults, but little is known about this pattern maturation throughout puberty. This study aimed to investigate the maturation of regional sweating patterns and thermal perceptions in females during exercise. Twenty‐eight females aged 8–25 years, representing five Tanner stages (preadolescent to adult) were recruited. Local sweat rates (LSR), sweat output per gland and thermal perceptions were measured during cycling exercise at fixed evaporative requirements for heat balance (154 ± 10 W/m2) in a climatic chamber (36°C and 50% relative humidity). Results indicated that LSR across the torso (chest, abdomen, back), but not the limbs (hand, thigh, shin), increased linearly with age, due to increases in sweat output per gland. The transition of regional sweating patterns from children‐like (higher LSR at extremities) to adult‐like (higher LSR at torso) became meaningful (2‐fold difference) at Tanner stage 3 and age 14. Perceptions of temperature, wetness and thermal comfort did not differ across age‐groups. Our findings provide the first detailed evaluation of regional sweating pattern maturation in females while exercising in the heat. This could inform person‐centred public health and sportswear applications.