Humans have 4-5 million sweat glands, of which over 250,000 are located on their feet. It’s no surprise that sweat and stink make their way between their toes and into their tennis shoes.
Plantar hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the feet) is characterized by the smell, slipping, sliding, blisters, and infection caused by sweaty feet.
Follow these tips to prevent sweaty and stinky feet if you’re tired of soggy socks and toe-curling foot odor.
1. Wash your feet daily
Foot odor can be caused by dirty, sweaty feet. Wash your feet with an antibacterial soap on a daily basis.
2. Antiperspirant Foot Lotions & Creams
An antiperspirant for feet is a great way to prevent sweating and stinky feet with all those sweat glands on your feet.
3. Use a Foot Deodorant Spray
Besides controlling foot sweat with a foot antiperspirant, you can also de-stink your feet with a foot deodorant spray. You can directly apply a foot deodorant spray to stinky feet and stinky shoes.
4. Use Foot Powder to Keep Feet Dry & Fungus Free
To control foot odor and reduce wetness from sweat, apply an anti-fungal foot powder after cleaning your feet.
5. Use an Alcohol Wipe to Reduce Sweating
Before you put on your socks and shoes for the day, wipe down your feet with an alcohol wipe to close up your pores and reduce sweating.
6. Use Cornstarch to Absorb Sweat and Keep Feet Dry
When your feet are clean, sprinkle cornstarch on them and leave them sit for a few minutes before putting on your shoes and socks. Cornstarch absorbs sweat and keeps your feet dry and comfortable.
7. Put Baking Soda in Your Shoes
To prevent bacteria from festering, put baking soda inside your shoes after removing them. This will soak up excess moisture.
8. Choose the Right Shoes
If possible, wear breathable shoes. Poor ventilation will not help your sweaty feet. Avoid plastic and leather shoes. And … always wear socks.
9. Keep Shoes Dry to Prevent Bacteria Build-up
Give your shoes a chance to dry out. Dry shoes are less likely to stink.
10. Wear Socks, Wear the Right Socks
Clean, dry socks are required if you wear closed-toed shoes. The best socks for sweaty feet are going to be breathable, moisture-wicking ones. Change your socks regularly and avoid cotton socks. Antimicrobial, wool, and bamboo are all good options to prevent sweaty feet.
11. Diet and Exercise
Reduce sweating by eating a healthy diet and avoiding spicy, processed, fatty foods. Drinking more water and avoiding caffeine can also help.
As a result, keeping stress to a minimum is important. Exercise and relaxation techniques can help manage stress before it leads to foot sweating.
12. Soaking Feet in Apple Cider Vinegar
In addition to helping reduce sweat and odor, apple cider vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it a great natural remedy for sweaty and stinky feet.
Apple cider vinegar can be applied to your feet with a cotton ball or you can soak them in it. You can soak your feet for 15-20 minutes with 1 part apple cider vinegar, 1 part water, and 1/2 part baking soda in a large bowl or basin. This also works for sweaty hands.
13. Soaking Feet in Tea (Black or Sage Tea)
Several people claim sage tea is the best remedy for sweaty feet, sweaty hands, and sweaty feet after exercising. Sage tea is a natural astringent.
The tea can also be drank after the feet have been soaked for 15-20 minutes. Melt four – five tea bags in a quart of boiling water before soaking your feet.
14. Exfoliate Feet
Using an exfoliating brush or glove 2-3 times a week will help keep bacteria away from your feet. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from your body, which bacteria love to feed on.
15. Lemon Juice
Before putting on your shoes or socks, apply fresh lemon juice to the soles of your feet. This will close your pores and prevent sweating. Lemon juice also functions as a natural deodorant.
16. Iontophoresis Treatment
Iontophoresis might be an option if antiperspirant doesn’t stop foot perspiration. For over 50 years, it has been used to treat excessive sweating of the hands and feet. With iontophoresis, medication is driven into the skin surface using electrical currents. Like an injection, but without needles. It is possible to use iontophoresis machines at home.
17. Botox Injections (Botulinum Toxin)
A Botox injection temporarily blocks the chemicals that cause sweating by blocking the nerves that activate them. There will be enough injections in the affected areas of your feet to ensure that all nerves have been treated. The effects last about 3-4 months, then repeat treatment. It is very painful to receive Botox injections for plantar hyperhidrosis (excessive foot sweating).
Sweaty feet cause these common problems
The problem with sweaty feet is that they end up sitting in excess moisture all day long.
There are a lot of infections that thrive here, and some of them are quite serious. If you have sweaty feet, you’re also likely to get warts and blisters.
You can contact our office at 949-588-8833, or visit our website at https://www.ocfootdoctor.com. Our offices are in Laguna Hills, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, and Costa Mesa.
📲 949-588-8833
🏢 24331 El Toro Rd, Suite 370 Laguna Woods CA 92637
🏢Irvine Medical Arts Building 113 Waterworks Way, Suite 250 Irvine, CA 92618
🌐 https://www.ocfootdoctor.com/