Conditions
What is Sweaty Feet?
Most of us have suffered from foot perspiration and odour from time to time, yet for some people, sweaty feet (along with sweaty palms and armpits) are a persistent problem, which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. For some people, this can affect their day-to-day life considerably, and result in decreased social contact with others. But the condition is treatable.
There are more sweat glands per inch in our feet than anywhere else in the body. Their function is to keep the skin moist and supple and regulate temperature when the weather is hot, if you have an unnaturally high temperature or while exercising. They secrete all the time, not just in response to heat or exercise, like elsewhere in the body.
Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, has a lot to do with how the sweat glands in the feet work. With 250,000 sweat glands, feet do tend to sweat more than other parts of the body, but with a daily hygiene routine few people should suffer from the embarrassment that it may cause.
Conditions
What causes the problem?
Sweaty feet (along with palms and armpits and the face/scalp) tend to be symmetrical. The exact cause is unknown but due mainly to overactive sweat glands. In some cases, the cause can be genetic.
Possible other causes include stress on the foot, sometimes caused by a structural problem, or because the foot is under strain or tired, for example when you have been standing on your feet all day.
Is it serious?
Although hot weather can make matters worse, sweaty feet is both a summer and a winter problem as well as an inherited condition. It also tends to be a long-term condition, which may require treatment over a sustained period of time.
In some cases, sweaty feet can lead to athlete’s foot or blisters.
Who gets it?
In adolescents and people generally under 25, sweaty feet are probably caused by overactive sweat glands triggered by changing hormone levels in the body. As the sweat glands on the soles of the feet (and palms of the hand) respond mostly to emotions, both mental and emotional stress is a common cause.
How do I know I have the condition?
An added problem that often accompanies sweaty feet and signifies its presence is foot odour caused by bacteria on the skin breaking down the sweat and releasing an offensive smell.
How do I prevent it?
Following a simple daily foot hygiene routine is usually effective in dealing with sweaty feet. This may include washing your feet with anti-bacterial soap, applying cream and/or using an absorbent foot powder and not wearing the same footwear every day but rotating what shoes you wear so they have a chance to dry out.
Wearing socks is also considered essential especially those that absorb moisture like wool, cotton or a wool/cotton mixture. In addition, detachable insoles (and medicated insoles that have a deodorising effect) are recommended as a lot of sweat is absorbed by insoles or the uppers of shoes.
In terms of footwear, well-fitting shoes made of leather, which allow your feet to breathe, are considered best.
Antiperspirants
What are they?
‘Antiperspirants’ and ‘deodorants’ are not the same.
An antiperspirant reduces sweat production while deodorants are designed just to remove and mask unpleasant smells, but not reduce the sweating.
If regular antiperspirants do not control your excessive sweating, a strong antiperspirant containing Aluminium Chloride is usually the first line of treatment. Anhydrol Forte (roll on), Odaban (spray) and Driclor (roll on) are sold in most chemists or on-line, and are available on a prescription from your GP.
Conditions
Get the best results
To get the best results from an antiperspirant you should apply it at night-time to clean, dry skin so that it can work overnight when sweating is at its least. If your skin is wet when applying an antiperspirant it might cause burning and discomfort. You should apply the antiperspirant every evening for the first week or two then it usually only needs to be applied every few days to keep your sweating under control.
These antiperspirants may cause irritation, which can be helped by the use of a weak (1%), corticosteroid cream, or you may be able to control the sweating by using the antiperspirant less frequently.
Conditions
SweatStop
SweatStop® is a range of aluminium chloride antiperspirants available available from SweatHelp.co.uk. Unlike most brands of strong antiperspirants, SweatStop has a range of strengths and ways to apply it so it can be used on all skin types and all skin areas from head to toe.
Like all aluminium chloride antiperspirants, they are to be applied at night to a dry skin (with the exception of the ‘Instant’, which is a cream that takes immediate effect). The range offers ‘upside down’ pump sprays which make it easier to apply to places like the back or feet, and sensitive sprays and creams for the face and other sensitive areas
Try SweatStop Forte Max antiperspirant spray for feet – 100ml.
