, they tend to sweat more during the summer season, due to the rise in temperature and especially if you wear shoes or sandals with non-breathable materials, such as leather. When choosing shoes, it is recommended to buy those with breathable air mesh uppers or with a breathable rubber sole. Often sneakers are a good option because they are designed to promote airflow and are machine washable. When your feet are particularly sweaty, you need to wear socks made of breathable material. Good options include 100% natural cotton, wool blend cotton if the temperature is colder, and microfiber. Instead, do not use synthetic materials such as nylon, lycra or polyester. Avoid wearing shoes when barefoot, as your feet will tend to sweat even more.
throughout the day: drink at least two liters of water a day, consume fruit and vegetables rich in water, and always have a bottle with you.
, hyperthyroidism), dietary (high consumption of foods or supplements containing caffeine, capsaicin or other thermogenic agents), pharmacological (antipyretics, cholinergics, antidepressants, amphetamines) and vegetative (hyperhidrosis induced by vomiting, nausea or pain). In these cases, real "wet footprints on the floor" can be left.
Foot sweating is quite common, however it is relatively rare for it to be excessive to be considered as hyperhidrosis, which 5% of the population suffer from. Among the treatments that effectively control foot sweating there are, for example, the use of breathable materials and iontophoresis treatments.
Did you know that ...
To limit the bad smell caused by excessive sweating of the feet and by the use of unsuitable and poorly breathable footwear, some remedies are recommended:
Talc: immediately after showering or washing your feet, use talcum powder (or even bicarbonate) which absorbs both excess moisture and odor;
Potassium alum: another effective remedy to limit bad foot odors could be to use potassium alum, a kind of natural deodorant that is usually used for the armpits. Just wet it lightly with water and gently pass it on the feet afterwards. having washed and dried them.
Black tea foot bath. After a particularly sweaty day, prepare a foot bath with a cup of strong black tea, then pour the mixture into a basin of cool water large enough for your feet. Make sure the water is warm before slipping on your feet. Black tea contains tannins, which have astringent properties that shrink sweat glands and reduce sweating.
To add to the foot bath ...
- Sage. Sage is a plant with a deodorizing power, so it can also be useful in case of sweaty and smelly feet. After preparing a decoction with sage leaves, pour it into the water for the foot bath and soak your feet for about 10-15 minutes.
- Vinegar or salt. Foot baths can also be made using vinegar or salt (half a cup is needed for each liter of water).
- Essential oils. The most suitable essential oils in case of sweaty and smelly feet are those with an antibacterial or refreshing action such as tea tree oil, mint, lavender, thyme or sage.
