Why does excessive sweating of the feet occur?
Why do my feet sweat? It would seem a simple question with a definite answer. Feet sweat from the elevated temperature of the environment where they are located.
Under such conditions, the sweat glands begin to work intensively, and the physiological mechanism of cooling the elevated temperature zone is automatically triggered.
Closed shoes made of synthetic materials cause increased sweating of the feet
Everything would be fine, but a favorable environment for microorganisms to live is created. They develop freely, providing themselves with the most comfortable living space.
The waste products and decomposition of microbes create an unbearable odor emanating from the feet. And this factor causes a lot of problems in everyday life.
What causes sweaty feet?
- lack or insufficient foot hygiene
- closed, uncomfortable shoes made of synthetic materials
- synthetic insoles in shoes
- wearing closed shoes in a warm room for a long time
- hormonal imbalances in the body
- some diseases (diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, fungus)
- stressful situations, anxiety
- increased physical activity
Increased sweating of the feet is observed even in children and adolescents
Pathological sweating of the feet
The reasons for increased sweating of the lower extremities are not always trivial. Sometimes if your feet sweat, the cause and treatment will be associated with various diseases. For example, an acute infectious process with increased body temperature and intoxication causes increased sweating, which spreads to the body and soles of the feet.
Some chronic pulmonary diseases (tuberculosis, emphysema, bronchiectasis) cause hyperhidrosis, so if you have a cough or other symptoms, you should consult a doctor
In hypertensive patients, an increase in blood pressure causes an increase in the speed of vascular blood flow. This leads to the activation of all sweat glands and an increase in sweating.
Other possible diseases accompanied by leg hyperhidrosis:
- Pathologies of the thyroid gland
. Due to changes in the production of hormones, the patient’s hands and feet often sweat, and the feet regularly freeze. - Some cancers
are diseases of the blood and lymphatic system. In this case, sweating occurs mostly at night. - Diabetes
. Metabolic disorders often cause increased sweating throughout the body. - Foot skin fungus
. The fungus usually affects the toes and nails, but if left untreated it can spread to the entire foot. The skin with mycosis sweats and smells bad.
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Sweaty feet in children and adolescents
Feet sweat not only in adults, but also in small children and teenagers
- The most common factor that causes sweating of feet in children is uncomfortable shoes made of synthetic materials and rubber. It does not allow air to pass through and creates excellent conditions for the development of bacteria and fungus
- Socks and tights made of synthetics cause your feet to sweat
- Due to their age, young children and teenagers are very active. Sports activities and active games contribute to sweating in children
- Increased sweating is caused by taking certain groups of medications, increased psycho-emotional state, hormonal changes
- Failure to follow basic foot hygiene rules can cause increased sweating. These children usually have wet socks and cold extremities.
- Hot weather causes increased sweating
- Foods with spices can also cause sweating
Uncomfortable dress shoes often cause sweating
Sweaty feet in women
Female hyperhidrosis occurs for a number of reasons. We list the most common causes of female sweating of the feet.
- Fashionable shoe models, which are difficult for young girls to refuse, often have an uncomfortable last that impedes air exchange and restricts blood circulation. Artificial leather and insoles, rubber material and shoe soles cause excessive sweating
- Synthetic tights, socks and knee socks cause your feet to sweat and your legs to become damp and cold.
- Women often wear closed, warm shoes indoors for a long time. As a result, the feet sweat and discomfort is felt in the form of increased humidity and cooling of the feet.
Health-related causes of sweating feet in women:
- hereditary predisposition
- hormonal disorders,
- infectious diseases
- presence of a malignant tumor
- flat feet
- nervous disorders
- skin diseases
- excessive dieting
Daily foot hygiene and changing socks will help reduce sweaty feet
Sweaty feet in men
Excessive sweating of the feet is a problem for many men. It happens that the stronger sex finds itself in piquant situations due to sweating and strong foot odor.
It is believed that increased hyperhidrosis occurs in almost every man and this is inevitable for the male half. Is it so?
It often happens that daily foot washing with soap, air foot baths and a clean pair of socks eliminates the problem of sweating.
What affects hyperhidrosis of male legs?
- insufficient foot hygiene
- narrow, uncomfortable shoes made of synthetic materials
- active sports activities
- some illnesses and stressful situations
IMPORTANT: If you are concerned about excessive sweating of your feet, and daily foot hygiene, changing shoes and socks does not help eliminate this ailment, you should consult a doctor and have your health examined.
Common Causes of Sweaty Feet
At least 5% of the world's population suffers from leg hyperhidrosis
.
Bad foot odor is not limited to those who do not follow good hygiene rules. Of course, infrequent water procedures and wearing dirty socks will certainly cause an unpleasant “aroma.” But the reason why your feet stink and are constantly wet may be different:
- wearing tight shoes that pinch on the sides, as well as shoes made of synthetic materials and with rough seams;
- using socks or tights that are too warm and inappropriate for the season;
- working in a hot room where it is not possible to take off boots or exchange them for replacement shoes;
- excessive physical activity, playing sports in inappropriate shoes and clothes.
Women's feet often begin to sweat a lot during menopause. Also, ladies often note that their feet have become cold, freezing even when warm. The reason is hormonal changes, changes in the autonomic nervous system, which cause hot flashes with sweating, followed by a feeling of freezing. Men and women with increased body weight always sweat more, and the sweat often takes on a sour odor. As a result of such violations, the feet smell very much and are constantly wet.
Dandruff is an external manifestation of any pathological processes (diseases of the scalp, metabolic disorders, fungal infections, etc.). This syndrome is a cluster of whitish scales on the scalp. Read more in the article: “dandruff - causes and treatment.”
Pharmacy remedies for sweaty feet
Pharmacies provide a wide range of products that reduce foot sweating. These medicines have a disinfecting, drying and deodorizing effect. Let's look at the most popular pharmaceutical remedies for sweating.
Teymurova paste - a pharmaceutical preparation for sweating feet
Teymur paste contains boric acid, borax, zinc oxide, salicylic acid, methenamine, lead acetate, formaldehyde, peppermint oil. This is a well-known drug used to reduce sweating of the feet. Teymur paste has antibacterial, antifungal, drying and cooling effects.
Clean skin of the interdigital space is coated with paste several times a day. The course of treatment for foot hyperhidrosis is usually 15-30 days.
Formagel is a colorless gel containing 3.7% formaldehyde. The product reduces the activity of sweat glands. The gel is applied to clean skin of the feet and between the toes. After half an hour, the skin is washed with water and thoroughly dried with a towel. The effect of the drug is designed for 10-12 days. Then the procedure is repeated.
Burnt alum (potassium alum) is a natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, drying, enveloping and hemostatic agent.
The drug eliminates sweating and relieves itching of the skin. Used as a powder. Sprinkle clean skin of problem areas with alum as needed.
Tablets for hyperhidrosis are used as prescribed by a doctor.
Treatment for sweaty feet
Pathological sweating
always treated by etiological therapy.
Only addressing the cause of hyperhidrosis will reduce it. For example, during menopause, a woman is prescribed special hormonal drugs with estrogens; for acute respiratory viral infections and other infections, antiviral drugs and antibiotics are prescribed. For hypertension, antihypertensive drugs help well, for heart and central nervous system diseases
- vascular drugs, angioprotectors, venotonics, etc. Thyroid diseases are treated by taking hormones, diabetes mellitus by insulin injections and a special diet.
Symptomatic treatment for sweating feet can be as follows:
- Formaldehyde-based ointments to block sweat glands, zinc ointments to dry the skin. Formagel ointment is applied to the skin once a week, Teymurov's paste is used before bedtime in short courses. Antiseptic Benzoyl peroxide gel is used daily.
- Electrophoresis or iontophoresis with drying drugs in a course of 12-15 procedures.
- Creams with herbs and other natural remedies (Chistostop, 911 Neoprotin cream, Folk healer, Malavit, Borozin). Helps eliminate unpleasant odors.
- Baths with potassium permanganate, sea salt, boric acid to dry the skin of the feet.
- Sprinkling your feet with baby powder and methenamine powder.
In severe cases of hyperhidrosis, surgery is performed to cut a number of nerve fibers or remove the sweat gland.
When children sweat, it is recommended to give them vitamin D, take them to the sea more often, and also pay attention to the state of the nervous system.
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Unconventional treatment of leg hyperhidrosis
Treatment with folk remedies for excessive sweating of the feet is very popular and will not cause extra costs. You can put fresh birch leaves in your shoes, sprinkle the inside of your socks with oak bark
– bacteria will have no chance to reproduce. A popular recipe for hyperhidrosis is this: steep 20 bay leaves in 3 liters of boiling water for 3 hours, then heat the product and steam your feet in it for 15 minutes. Repeat before bed for 7 days. Instead of bay leaves, you can take the peels of 2 lemons.
Another recipe: beat an egg with a spoon of vegetable oil, apply the mixture to your feet, put on socks, and go to bed.
Zinc ointment for sweaty feet
Ointments and pastes based on zinc oxide are time-tested pharmaceutical preparations that have proven their effectiveness in the fight against excessive sweating.
Zinc oxide is used to prepare ointments, pastes, mash, and liniments. The drug has a disinfecting and drying effect.
Zinc ointment is a time-tested remedy for foot hyperhidrosis
Zinc ointment 10% contains zinc oxide and medical petroleum jelly. The drug has an antiseptic, astringent, adsorbent and drying effect. The ointment is applied to clean skin prone to excessive sweating 2-3 times a day.
Salicylic-zinc paste or Lassara paste contains zinc oxide, salicylic acid, starch, petroleum jelly. Lubricate the interdigital spaces with the paste, applying the drug to clean areas of the skin.
Lassara paste is used for sweaty feet, as an old and proven remedy that dries the skin, relieves inflammation and irritation of the skin. The drug creates a protective barrier from external factors, adsorbs excess moisture and allows the skin to remain dry for a long time.
If your feet sweat a lot, folk remedies will help - 15 best recipes
If you are tired of the unpleasant odor and constant sweating of your feet, don’t expect it to go away on its own, take action! Choose your folk remedy and treat foot hyperhidrosis at home (just don’t forget to see a doctor and get advice).
Of course, you can also use medications from pharmacies and shoe/cosmetic stores , but they only mask the problem:
- Foot spray. The product is aimed at completely masking the odor (it does not eliminate sweating).
- Creamy deodorant. It is applied between the fingers and on the feet. The product is effective only for mild hyperhidrosis.
- Dry deodorant or antibacterial powder . Sweat-absorbing products are not a treatment or odor remover. However, some products sometimes contain a component that helps in the fight against foot fungus.
Home remedies for sweaty feet
Daily foot hygiene will help your feet look well-groomed and overcome excessive sweating. At home, you can effectively and affordably take care of your feet without resorting to the services of expensive beauty salons.
Foot baths, powders, pastes - all of these products are acceptable and will not take up much time in your daily foot care. In addition, these procedures are not only pleasant, but also help reduce sweating of the feet.
Foot baths are an effective way to reduce sweaty feet.
Foot baths with potassium permanganate
Pharmaceutical potassium permanganate dries the skin of the feet and has an antiseptic effect.
- Dissolve several crystals of potassium permanganate in warm water until they turn light pink.
- Soak your feet in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes
- Wipe your feet dry
Oak bark baths
Oak bark contains a tannin - tannin. The natural component has a bactericidal and astringent effect. Therefore, baths with oak bark will not only heal small cracks on the feet, but will also significantly reduce foot sweating.
Oak bark tannin will help eliminate excessive sweating of the feet
- Pour 200 g of oak bark into a liter of boiling water and cook over low heat for 20 minutes. This amount of decoction is enough for four procedures.
- Mix a glass of oak decoction with a liter of warm water
- Soak your feet in the resulting solution for 20 minutes.
Unused concentrated oak bark solution is stored in the refrigerator. Foot baths should be used daily for 10-14 days.
Oak bark powder
Pour finely crushed oak bark into socks. You can use oak bark powder to treat the spaces between your toes. This product perfectly absorbs sweat and neutralizes its odor.
Baths with soda, salt and iodine tincture
Foot baths with this composition are an excellent prevention against fungal diseases; the composition of the solution has an antiseptic and drying effect.
Dissolve a tablespoon of table salt and soda in a liter of hot water. Add 5-7 drops of an alcohol solution of 5% iodine. Soak your feet until the water cools completely.
An infusion of sage herb is used to reduce sweating in the form of foot baths and when taken orally.
Sage baths
Sage leaf has disinfectant and astringent properties. Herbal components affect hormonal levels and normalize sweating. In addition, foot baths with sage soften the skin and eliminate calluses.
- Steam 5 tablespoons of pharmaceutical sage with a liter of boiling water and keep on low heat for 15 minutes.
- Keep your feet in the warm infusion for 20 minutes.
To enhance the effect of reducing sweating, it is possible to combine the use of sage decoction internally and in the form of foot baths
For internal use: pour a tablespoon of sage into a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Take 1 tablespoon three times a day.
You can make your own foot deodorant at home
Homemade deodorant recipe with rosemary, thyme and apple cider vinegar
Compound:
- thyme herb - 1 tablespoon
- rosemary herb - 1 tablespoon
- apple cider vinegar - 0.5 cups
- water - 1 glass
Preparation
- Steam thyme and rosemary with boiling water and cook over low heat for 15 minutes
- Once cooled, strain and add apple cider vinegar.
Place the solution in a spray bottle or simply moisten a cotton swab and treat areas of increased sweating several times a day.
Tea tree oil will effectively reduce foot sweating and neutralize sweat odor
Homemade deodorant with tea tree
Tea tree essential oil has long been famous for its bactericidal and antifungal properties. In addition, the natural elixir normalizes sweating and eliminates unpleasant foot odor.
Compound:
- tea tree oil - 10 drops
- water - 0.5 cups
Preparation
- Add 10 drops of tea tree to 100 ml of purified water
- Pour into a spray bottle
A paste of lemon juice and soda dries the skin and eliminates sweat odor
Lemon juice and baking soda paste
Lemon juice and sodium bicarbonate are the perfect combination of two ingredients. They not only reduce sweat production, but also have an antiseptic effect and neutralize the unpleasant odor of sweat.
Compound:
- lemon - 1 pc.
- baking soda - as much as needed
Preparation and use
- Squeeze the juice and lemon and mix with baking soda to obtain a paste mixture.
- Apply the resulting paste to the spaces between your toes.
- After 15 minutes, rinse with cool water and wipe your feet dry.
Dry foot deodorant can be made from cornstarch and baking soda.
Cornstarch and baking soda dusting
A successful combination of starch and soda will adsorb sweat and remove unpleasant odors. Feet treated with this powder will remain dry for a long time, without spreading an unwanted aroma.
Compound:
- corn starch - 1 tablespoon
- soda - 1 teaspoon
Preparation and use
- Mix baking soda with cornstarch in the given proportion
- Use the resulting dry deodorant as a powder for your feet and toes.
You can get rid of excessive sweating of the feet using cosmetics and home remedies.
How to get rid of sweaty feet at home: tips and reviews
It is possible to reduce excessive foot sweating at home. This is evidenced by numerous user reviews on the Internet.
What should you do to prevent your feet from sweating?
- Wash your feet twice a day every day. Dry your feet with a soft towel, remember to thoroughly wipe away any moisture between your toes.
- In case of excessive sweating, give your feet a cycle of herbal baths that reduce sweating
- Use special products and foot powders that absorb excess moisture and sweat. In addition, such products eliminate unpleasant odors.
- In the summer, do not wear closed shoes, but use open shoes that provide good ventilation of the feet
- You should choose high-quality shoes made from natural materials
- Feet should be kept dry and comfortably warm
If you sweat excessively, you should disinfect your shoes and get rid of the smell.
And finally, we’ll share one more useful tip.
How to disinfect shoes and remove unpleasant odors?
- Soak a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide solution and wipe the inside of the shoe
- Then soak another cotton swab with alcohol and thoroughly treat the inside of the shoes.
- After this, the shoes should be ventilated and dried.
- Place a bag of flavored dry tea into the treated shoes
