Foot Perspiration

Sweating is normal and can even be good for us. But there is such a thing as too much sweat. Are your shoes and socks soaking wet when you remove them? Do unsightly dark marks often appear under your arms, staining shirts and making you feel embarrassed? If so, you may be suffering from either:

Hyperhidrosis: A condition characterized by excess sweating in the hands, feet, armpits, and/or groin region.

Bromhidrosis: A condition that causes excessive sweating with an unpleasant odor, even when you’re not engaged in strenuous activity.

Foot perspiration isn’t dangerous to your health, but it can create an environment for the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungus. These microorganisms can produce infections like athlete's foot or yellow, crumbly, thick toenails (toenail fungus). Not fun!

How can you stop the impact of your sweat? Keep your feet cool! Read on to learn more about how to keep your sweat in check.

Causes of Hyperhydrosis

While perspiration is normal and healthy, hyperhidrosis occurs when you have overactive sweat glands, which produce more than enough sweat to keep your body cool.

In some cases, hyperhidrosis can be the result of other more serious health conditions. If you think you might have hyperhidrosis, discuss the problem with your physician.

Additional common causes include:

• Excessive anxiety.
• Various skin diseases such as fungal or bacterial infections or contact dermatitis
• Symptoms
• Everyone's feet perspire during exercise or in warm weather – your body needs to let heat out. But if excessive sweating becomes a chronic condition that occurs year-round, even when you’re not engaged in strenuous activity, you may have hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhydrosis Relief and Prevention

Try these tips to relieve hyperhidrosis:

• Keep your feet clean and dry.
• Shower regularly with anti-bacterial soap.
• Use foot powders and sprays specifically designed to keep
• feet dry.
• Use anti-perspirants regularly.
• Change your shoes and socks often.
• Rotate your shoes (especially athletic shoes) and air them out if they become wet.
• Use removable insoles that can be changed frequently to
• allow them to dry out.
• Wear sandals during warm weather.
• Wear specialty socks with fibers designed to keep perspiration away from the foot.
• According to WebMD.com, some people have found that one Botox treatment can provide up to a year's relief from excessive sweating.

Causes of Bromhidrosis

One of the top causes of foot odor is excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis) and moisture, which provide a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. When sweat and cellular debris from the bacteria and yeast begin to break down, your feet can give off a noxious odor. Since bromhidrosis creates an environment for the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungus, infections such as athlete's foot or toenail fungus may soon follow.

Additional common causes of foot odor include:

• Excessive anxiety
• Various skin conditions

If a particular health condition is causing your excessive sweating, you may also notice that you have sweaty palms or excessive perspiration under your arms and in your groin area.

In turn, excessive sweating can indicate the presence of other health conditions more serious than foot odor, so it is always good to discuss the problem with your physician.

Bromhidrosis Relief And Prevention

The most important way to relieve bromhidrosis? Keep your feet clean and dry. Additionally:

• Shower regularly with anti-bacterial soap.
• Use foot powders and sprays specifically designed to
• keep feet dry.
• Change your shoes and socks often.
• Rotate your shoes (especially athletic shoes) and air them out if they become wet.
• Use insoles that can be changed frequently to prevent the odor from staying in your shoe.
• Wear sandals during warm weather.
• Launder, disinfect, or discard foul smelling shoes.

If the condition persists, and excessive sweating is also a problem in other areas of your body, please consult a physician.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your health care provider on all matters relating to this or any other condition that may affect your health.