Sweating occasionally is normal. It could be a particularly hot day or you could simply be hitting your workout hard. In these instances, sweating isn’t just normal, it’s expected; however, if you find yourself sweating excessively, particularly in your feet, and for no reason whatsoever you may be wondering what’s going on.
Your Sweaty Feet Could be Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating. Plantar hyperhidrosis is when people experience excessive sweating of the feet. Men are often more likely than women to develop this issue. The good news is that if your podiatrist determines that you have plantar hyperhidrosis there are ways to several ways to treat it.
Your Hyperhidrosis May Be Secondary
Okay, so what does this mean exactly? This means that you may have an underlying condition that could have brought about hyperhidrosis. So by finding and treating the underlying cause we can often alleviate hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis may be caused by:
- Menopause
- Hyperthyroidism
- Parkinson’s disease
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
- Intense stress
- Certain prescription medications such as antidepressants
- Tuberculosis and other infections
- Dysautonomia
We’ll Try Conservative Measures First
As is the way for treating most health conditions, your podiatrist will often recommend certain lifestyle changes and simple treatment options first to see if these are effective enough against excessive sweatiness. Only if these treatment options don’t work will your podiatrist turn to more aggressive options. Conservative options include:
- Applying deodorant or antiperspirant to your feet
- Applying antifungal powder to the feet
- Making sure not to wear the same shoes two days in a row
- Choosing breathable shoes (shoes made from leather or canvas)
- Wearing moisture-wicking socks
How a Podiatrist Can Help
While a podiatrist can recommend a variety of options to help you manage your sweaty feet, there are instances where you may need to turn to a foot and ankle specialist for more aggressive treatment. One way that a podiatrist treats sweaty feet is with iontophoresis, a painless device that passes mild electrical currents through the feet to temporarily stop sweat glands from producing sweat. Along with iontophoresis, a podiatrist may also recommend Botox injections, which can also temporarily stop excessive sweating for anywhere from 6-9 months.
If you are dealing with sweaty feet and it’s impacting your daily routine or making you uncomfortable, a podiatrist can evaluate your issue and figure out how to get your sweating under control.