Sweaty feet

Sweaty feet – many people suffer from them at some point. Excessive, episodic or constant sweating, particularly from the armpits, palms or soles of the feet, is also known as hyperhidrosis.

It is important to identify the cause of excessive sweating as accurately as possible. This may be a genetic predisposition or a physical condition, such as being overweight, the menopause, diabetes, an overactive thyroid, or a side effect of certain medicines.

However, sweating is also exacerbated by physical exertion, mental concentration, nervousness, anxiety or high temperatures.

Another possible cause could be unsuitable shoes or socks. When the foot is in direct contact with the shoe, this is more likely to cause sweaty feet, as the moisture has nowhere to go.

Excessive sweating is unpleasant; the dampness is a nuisance. Your hands are constantly clammy, your back is wet, and your feet are almost always damp. The unpleasant odour associated with sweaty feet is often the biggest problem. Almost everyone thinks that the overproduction of sweat is the cause of this. This is not true; sweat is odourless in itself. The culprits are the bacteria that live on your feet; they react chemically with the sweat, releasing an odour and causing your feet to smell. The bacteria thrive in a damp environment, so the more you sweat, the more bacteria remain on your feet. This makes the skin vulnerable, making it easier for fungal and bacterial infections to develop.

There are many remedies for sweaty feet on the market. What works well for one person may not have any effect on another. Of course, a product’s effectiveness also depends on whether it tackles the root cause of sweaty feet. And this can vary from person to person. Below are a few tips from our podiatrists:

• Buy shoes that allow your feet to breathe properly;
• Choose the right socks;
• Change your shoes regularly;
• Wash your feet thoroughly and dry them carefully after showering.

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Sweat is produced by two types of sweat glands:

• apocrine sweat glands (which open into a hair follicle)
• eccrine sweat glands (which open directly onto the skin)

The eccrine sweat glands are involved in thermoregulation and therefore secrete actual sweat. In an adult, the foot can produce half a litre of sweat in a single day. When the sweat evaporates, the feet are cooled, thereby maintaining normal body temperature.

The eccrine sweat glands on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet not only help regulate body temperature but also provide a better grip.

The number of sweat glands varies from 120 per cm² to a maximum of 620 per cm² on the sole of the foot, with a total of 2 to 5 million.