If you have ever tried to sweat out a hangover by exercising or sitting in a sauna, you may be wasting your time. According to Professor Adam Taylor of Lancaster Medical School, the liver – not the skin – is responsible for ridding the body of toxins from alcohol. “Toxins” is a broad term covering anything from heavy metals to metabolic byproducts, but the liver processes them and excretes waste in urine or stools.
Sweat, by contrast, is primarily for temperature regulation and can only carry trace amounts of metabolic waste. “Sweating is not the means to remove toxins,” says Taylor. “Going for a run or sitting in a sauna after a night of drinking won’t reduce the toxins produced by metabolising alcohol, and it won’t lower your blood alcohol level.” There is no way to speed up alcohol detoxification; each person metabolises it at a fixed rate.
So why does physical activity or heat often feel good when hungover? Both activities boost endorphins and reduce cortisol, improving circulation, relaxing muscles, and stimulating the “rest and digest” nervous system. This can ease symptoms, but it does not accelerate detoxification. Taylor emphasises that if you choose to sweat when hungover, hydration is crucial because alcohol depletes water and sweating increases fluid loss, raising the risk of dehydration and tissue inflammation.
