How to Handle Sweaty Feet
According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, approximately 367 million people worldwide deal with extreme sweating issues. Hyperhidrosis is when a human body produces more sweat than average. When it comes to plantar hyperhidrosis (or sweaty feet), humans often find themselves suffering from soggy footwear, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, or continual cold feet.
Hyperhidrosis or sweaty feet can be caused by many variables. In most cases, sweaty feet is hereditary and begins during childhood or adolescence. In some cases, there may be no identifiable cause or reason for a person developing hyperhidrosis.
To address this common issue, here are some best practices we would recommend you incorporate in your daily routine:
Find breathable shoes: When it comes to your footwear, choose shoes that are made with canvas or leather. We would also recommend alternating your footwear that you wear to keep them as dry as possible.
Wear the right socks: Wool and cotton socks are great for ventilation. Change your socks more than once per day and take along an extra pair when you’re out in public.
Choose the right antiperspirant: This is often the first line of treatment as antiperspirants are typically inexpensive, easy to use and non-invasive. We recommend applying antiperspirants before your go to bed. This will help you sweat less while you sleep and allow for better antiperspirant block buildup. Once you wake up, please don’t forget to wash off the antiperspirant.
Use powder to dry your feet: When it comes to drying your feet, we would recommend using antifungal powders. Cornstarch is also a commonly recommended powder that could help keep your feet dry.
Wash your feet: To address hyperhidrosis, we recommend washing your feet daily, sometimes twice when necessary. After washing your feet, we recommend thoroughly drying your feet and in between the toes to reduce the risk of bacterial and fungal infections on your feet.
In the event that you are experiencing excessive sweating with your feet, we recommend setting up an appointment with our team. Click here to set up an appointment at River Podiatry.
