Sweaty feet treatment in Esperance
Everyone's feet sweat. Your feet have more sweat glands than almost anywhere else on your body, and sweating keeps the skin supple and helps control your temperature. But for some people, feet sweat far more than they need to, even when it's cool and they're sitting still.
Excessive sweating of the feet is called plantar hyperhidrosis. It's common, often starts in childhood or the teenage years, and frequently runs in families. It isn't a hygiene problem, and it isn't your fault, but it can be uncomfortable, embarrassing and hard on your skin.
Signs your feet sweat more than normal
socks that are damp or wet through by the end of the day, or even mid-morning
feet that slip around inside sandals, thongs or shoes
wet footprints on the floor
skin on the soles that looks white, wrinkled or soggy
shoes that smell, stain or wear out quickly
sweating that happens regardless of temperature or activity, and is often worse with stress
Why it matters for your feet
Constantly damp skin is softer and weaker, and it's a perfect environment for bacteria and fungi. People with sweaty feet are more likely to get:
smelly feet and bacterial skin infections such as pitted keratolysis and erythrasma. Read more about smelly feet.
tinea (athlete's foot) and fungal toenails. Read more about tinea and fungal toenails.
friction blisters, because damp skin grips the sock more and is weaker. Read more about friction blisters.
soggy, cracked skin between the toes
Two types of excessive sweating
Primary hyperhidrosis is the most common type. The sweat glands are simply overactive, usually in the feet, hands or underarms, on both sides of the body. It often starts young and runs in families.
Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by something else, such as some medications, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, menopause or infection. It's more likely if the sweating started suddenly in adulthood, affects your whole body, is one-sided, or happens at night.
See your GP if your sweating started suddenly, is getting worse, affects your whole body, or you also have night sweats, weight loss or fever.
What helps
Most people get the best results by combining several of these:
Everyday habits
Wash your feet every day and dry them thoroughly, including between the toes. Read [how to wash your feet properly].
Choose moisture-wicking socks made from synthetic blends or merino, rather than pure cotton, which holds moisture against the skin.
Change your socks during the day if they get damp. Carry a spare pair.
Rotate your shoes. Have at least two pairs of work shoes or boots, and let each pair dry out completely for a day between wears.
Choose breathable shoes, and remove the insoles to air them out overnight.
Go barefoot or wear open shoes at home when it's safe for your feet.
Antiperspirant for your feet
Antiperspirants work on the feet as well as the underarms. Antiperspirants containing aluminium salts produce a chemical reaction that forms plugs in the eccrine sweat ducts. Go for a stronger antiperspirant available from pharmacies without a prescription, like Rexona Clinical Protection or Driclor. They work best applied at night to clean, completely dry feet, when the sweat glands are least active, then washed off in the morning. Use them nightly until sweating improves, then once or twice a week to maintain it. Stop if your skin becomes irritated.
Black tea foot soaks
Black tea contains tannins, which are natural astringents that help reduce sweating. They're simple, cheap, and many people find them helpful:
Place 5 black tea bags in 1 litre of boiling water and let them steep for at least 20 minutes.
Add enough cool water to make a comfortable foot bath.
Soak your feet for 10 to 20 minutes a day.
The effect usually builds over a week or two. After that, two or three soaks a week is often enough to maintain it. Tea soaks can stain the skin and nails a light brown, which fades. Other astringents include witch hazel, alcohol, surgical spirit, Condy’s crystals, compound tincture of benzoin, and salty water.
Anticholinergic medication
Some medicines reduce sweating by blocking the nerve signals that switch the sweat glands on. They come as creams or tablets and are prescribed by your GP or a dermatologist. Possible side effects include a dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, a change in taste and difficulty passing urine. Your doctor can adjust the dose to find the right balance between less sweating and fewer side effects. Read more about these medicines on DermNet.
Iontophoresis
Iontophoresis passes a gentle electrical current through water while your feet rest in shallow trays. It doesn’t sound like it, but as this video shows, it’s quite a comfortable process. Done regularly, it reduces sweating for many people with primary hyperhidrosis. Machines can be bought for home use. You can learn more about iontophoresis for hyperhidrosis here and here.
Medical treatments
If sweating is severe and other measures haven't helped, your GP or a dermatologist can discuss medical options, including botox injections into the soles, anticholinergic medication (creams or tablets) that block the nerve signals that switch the sweat glands on, or a surgical procedure called a sympathectomy.
When to see a podiatrist
Book in if:
your feet are always damp, despite good habits
you keep getting blisters, tinea or smelly feet
the skin on your soles or between your toes is soggy, peeling or cracked
you have diabetes or poor circulation and your feet are often damp
Rebecca can check your skin and nails, treat any infection, and put together a plan to keep your feet drier and healthier.
Book an appointment
No referral is needed. Call (08) 9072 1514 or visit us at Suite B, 116 Dempster Street, Esperance.