Sweat is a normal body process as it regulates body temperature and is therefore important for human survival. It’s normal to sweat when it’s hot outside or when exercising, but if sweating is excessive or all the time, it may be due to a medical condition known as hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis).
There are millions of sweat glands all over our body, but they are quite concentrated on the bottom of our feet. Sweat glands are activated by the nerves in our body which respond to hormones, temperature, emotions, and physical activity. Most people do not have hyperhidrosis. An estimated 3% of Canadians suffer with hyperhidrosis. Regardless, sweaty feet can be annoying and embarrassing, especially if they cause your feet to move around too much in your shoes or leave wet footprints on floors. Keep reading to learn about solutions for your sweaty feet!
What can you do at home to help your sweaty feet?
- Wash feet daily with an anti-bacterial soap as part of your personal hygiene routine
- Wear a fresh pair of socks every day
- Socks with moisture wicking properties will draw moisture away from sweaty skin such as Merino wool and nylon
- Change socks throughout the day if they become moist with sweat
- Allow shoes to air out after wearing
- Choose shoes made of natural and breathable materials such as leather or canvas
- Apply an astringent like rubbing alcohol with a cotton ball to the skin
- Try Footlogix Sweaty Feet Formula with Dermal Infusion Technology®containing oak bark and sage which acts as an astringent and is also a natural anti-microbial
- An antiperspirant applied to the bottom of the feet blocks the pores in the top layer of the skin which reduces the amount of sweat allowed to surface
If your sweaty feet become malodorous, you may have a condition called bromhidrosis. This is caused by the presence of bacteria in sweat. An anti-bacterial soap combined with an anti-bacterial topical treatment will reduce odour.
Other treatments for sweaty feet include iontophoresis, which is a process that passes a weak electrical current through the skin to block sweat glands from releasing sweat. Iontophoresis machines can be purchased at certain vendors and used at home. Botox injections can also be useful to treat hyperhidrosis as they block the release of the chemical that actually turns on the body’s sweat gland production.
If your sweaty feet bothersome or are affecting your quality of life, give BioPed Footcare a call today to book a medical footcare assessment. There may be something more you can do to control your sweating!
