Sweaty feet (plantar hyperhidrosis) and sweaty hands or palms (palmar hyperhidrosis) typically develop together, although the latter manifests earlier. Just like other types of hyperhidrosis, the root of the sweating problem is usually genetic. Children will have excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis of the feet when one of their parents also had it. Sometimes, the cause of sweaty feet can be systemic resulting from anemia or hyperthyroidism.
Sweaty feet can also be caused by other external factors such as the use of synthetic shoes or socks with non-absorbent fabric. Fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot, develops due to the bacteria growth on moist feet. Some sufferers also trace hyperhidrosis to conditions of extreme anxiety or stress.
Whatever the causes are, sweaty feet always bring uneasiness to sufferers. Women with sweaty feet prefer not to wear sandals or open-toe shoes as the feet slide out of the shoes. Men who have it are embarrassed if other people find out that their feet get wet and cause unpleasant odor. Sometimes even married couple can drift apart due to this disorder. Much of a sufferer’s social life is affected by hyperhidrosis and all the more that he becomes anxious and perspire.
Sweaty feet can be treated and there’s more than one way to remedy this disorder that has been tormenting a person for a long time.
Powder Deodorant, Antiperspirant and Spray
Over-the-counter treatment with antifungal is good if athlete’s foot have developed from sweaty feet. Some brands with zinc oxide, baking soda and aluminum chloride are also effective like Bromi Talc, Dr. Scholl’s Odor Destroyer Deodorant, Onox Foot Solution Spray, Clinical Strength Maxim’s Antiperspirant, Certain Dri Antiperspirant, Tinactin Antifungal Pump Spray, Fissan Foot Powder, and Milcu Foot Deodorant Powder. Drysol Solution is the most popular brand that many hyperhidrosis sufferers have tried.
Medications
Anticholergenics are drugs administered to a hyperhidrosis patient to stop excessive sweating. Although the drug is prescribed to cure diseases like Parkinson’s, it is also proven effective for sweaty feet except that side effects are common such as blurry eye vision, dryness of the mouth, sedative effect and constipation.
Foot Lotions and Creams
Some lotions and creams with zinc oxide and Aluminum Hydroxychloride are good for sweaty feet. The known-brands in the market are Gehwol Med Deodorant Foot Cream and Bromi-Lotion Antiperspirant.
Foot Soak with Tea
Tea, either black or green, has a chemical substance called tannin, which kills the odor-causing bacteria associated with sweaty feet. Simply boil 1 pint of water, add two tea bags. Then dilute the solution with 2 quarts of cold water, then soak your feet for at least 30 minutes. Pat dry your feet before using any footwear.
Bare Foot Therapy
This is a back-to-primitive idea of treating sweaty feet. If sweaty feet are caused by wearing shoes and socks, then walking barefoot whenever necessary can help minimize the discomfort. It will give the feet a chance to breathe and with less force to walk. Because socks are also protection for the feet, some doctors of the feet (podiatrists) have developed a thin foot glove that resembles the feeling of walking barefoot.
Iontophoresis
This is also called Electromotive Drug Administration (EDA) device. Iontophoresis uses tap water to send small electric shock through the skin. It has about 80% success rate of temporarily relieving sweaty feet if used correctly. Water has electrolytes where electric current pass through the skin surface. This action blocks or inhibits the sweat glands from producing perspiration. Some tap water may be very soft for the treatment so anticholenergics are added to strengthen the effect.
Botox
Botox is a noninvasive treatment usually lasting for several months. Botox is injected to the feet to stop the glands from sweating.
Lumbar Sympathectomy
This is a focal sympathectomy which is similar to Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (ETS). Usually patients who were not happy with the results of ETS undergo lumbar sympathectomy.The procedure is quite similar to ETS but so far, there have been no reports of compensatory sweating after lumbar sympathectomy. The surgery clamps or cuts the nerves that stimulate the active sweat glands.
Having sweaty feet surely is embarrassing. Personal hygiene is important as first remedy to sweaty feet. Always make sure that you wash your feet with antibacterial soap. Scrub the areas between the toes. Then dry them well before wearing socks and shoes. Also, clean socks must be worn all the time. If your shoes get wet or moist, air-dry them before using them again. If you notice that sweaty feet still persist, then you can use natural and over-the-counter treatments. Surgery is only done for severe sweaty feet.