Skin and sweat, an accessible physiological mirror: clinical and in vitro models

Scientists are increasingly looking for simple, non-invasive methods to monitor health and detect diseases at an early stage. This thesis explores sweat as a promising source of health information, focusing on tiny particles in sweat called extracellular vesicles that may reflect changes happening in the body.

Because skin and sweat are closely linked to our body’s metabolism, the research investigates whether sweat can reveal signs of metabolic conditions, such as issues with blood sugar. The study combines samples from human volunteers with laboratory experiments using skin cells to understand these signals better.

The findings suggest that sweat and skin have the potential to provide a simple, non-invasive way to track metabolic health, monitor glucose levels, and understand how the body responds to exercise and heat stress. In the future, this approach could help develop simpler health-monitoring tools that benefit a wide range of people.