Did you know that your feet secrete the equivalent of half a cup of sweat a day? And that the feet are the body part that sweats the most? Closed up in shoes, your feet get hot and sweat accumulates, causing a—hmm, how to say it nicely… It causes a hard-to-manage smell to develop. Here are some tips to find a remedy for sweaty feet.
Pamper your feet
Good personal hygiene is the first tactic in the battle against sweaty, stinky feet. Needless to say, washing your feet with soap and drying them thoroughly at least once a day is necessary (the bacteria that cause smelly feet feed on dead skin). When you get dressed in the morning, wear clean socks or use sole liners in sandals.
Is there a remedy for sweaty feet? Look at your shoes!
Foot odour is caused by bacterial overgrowth and sweat, and workout shoes made from man-made materials can trap sweat and odour in. Try this: go barefoot as often as possible. Your feet will still sweat, but there won’t be any odour! And rather than wearing tight-fitting slippers around the house, schlep around in a pair of well aerated sandals.
Avoid synthetic materials
When possible, choose sandals, boots, slippers, and shoes that are made of natural fibre uppers. Opt for cotton or wool socks, which don’t lock in odours and allow the feet to breathe. Most sports equipment brands sell breathable shoes and socks specially designed to keep the feet dry.
Camouflage odours
Remember your grandpa’s foot talc? He was no fool. An inexpensive alternative is to use boric acid (Borax) as a foot powder. This white powder is antiseptic, moisture absorbing, and skin softening. There are also foot deodorants that help your feet stay dry without leaving white marks in your shoes.
The last resort: surgery
Is there a remedy for sweaty feet that will take care of the problem once and for all? If you have excessively sweaty feet, a condition called hyperhidrosis, the problem can be solved with surgery. In a lumbar sympathectomy operation, the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the sweat glands are severed. The procedure is irreversible and can have some side effects.
Is it a persistent problem?
If you have excessively sweaty feet, a doctor can help you find a safe treatment that works. Some people get relief with prescription-strength antiperspirants or botulinum toxin injections (Botox). Another option offered at some medical clinics is iontophoresis, which involves soaking the feet in water through which a mild electric current passes. These remedies usually require more than one treatment before results can be observed.
