Most of us have suffered from foot perspiration and odour from time to time. Yet for some people, sweaty feet are a persistent problem which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable.
Plantar hyperhidrosis, the medical term for feet that sweat excessively, is a common problem and tends to be more commonly seen in men than women. It can also cause emotional stress and worries regarding foot odour, especially within teens and young adults who are affected.
Sweaty feet can be caused by stress on the foot. This may be due to a structural problem, or because the foot is under strain or tired, for example, when you’ve been standing on your feet all day. There are more sweat glands per inch in our feet than anywhere else in the body, around 250,000, and their function is to keep the skin moist and therefore supple. Feet do tend to sweat more than other parts of the body and they secrete all the time, not just in response to heat or exercise as elsewhere in the body.
Hot weather can make matters worse, although hyperhidrosis is a winter, as well as a summer, problem. It can also be an inherited condition. In adolescents, sweaty feet are probably caused by over-active sweat glands triggered by changing hormonal levels in the body. As the sweat glands on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hand respond mostly to emotion, mental or emotional stress is another common cause.
A secondary condition is one that is triggered by a bigger, underlying condition that could have brought on the symptoms of sweaty feet. While you can look to treat the sweaty feet symptom, it may never truly go away until you have diagnosed and treated the underlying cause.
This could be a number of different issues, including;
Careful consideration of footwear and socks is essential. Well-fitting shoes made of leather, that allow feet to ‘breathe,’ are advisable.
As a lot of sweat is absorbed by insoles and uppers of shoes, different pairs should be worn each day, and allowed to dry before being worn again. Removable insoles are beneficial. We also advise the use of anti-bacterial sprays that can help to keep footwear free of bacteria, but it’s incredibly important to choose a spray containing no bleach as this can damage your footwear.
Socks that absorb moisture well will also help. Changing socks a couple of times a day can also help.
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