Foot Sweating, Its Causes, Symptoms and Cures

Foot sweating is also known as Pedal Hyperhidrosis. Pedal Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that involves the feet and the excessive sweating of the feet.

Foot sweating rarely occurs on its own. More often than not, it appears in conjunction with Palmar Hyperhidrosis or abnormal hand sweating. If the hands don't sweat profusely but the foot does, the condition is called solitary foot sweating.

The excessive sweating of the foot isn't as big of a problem as hand sweating. Foot sweating can easily be obscured because the feet are not used in social relations as much as the hands are. Hands are used for greeting, holding objects, and other functions. The foot, on the other hand, is simply used for walking. Most of the time, it is safely hidden inside the socks and the shoes.

However, the problem becomes apparent the moment you remove the foot's covers. For some people, excessive foot sweating leaves them with smelly feet because of the microbes proliferating in the sweat. This condition may also convince other people, especially ladies, not to wear sandals, flip flops, and open shoes because the sweat on their feet becomes very apparent. It may even cause accidental falls and slips in worst cases.

Causes

The things that trigger hand sweating are relatively the same as the ones that causes foot sweating. Genetics play a very important role here. If you have relatives that suffer from this disease, the chances are high that you'll be suffering from the same thing as well.

Sometimes, if the feet are always covered, foot sweating develops. It also pays to let your foot breathe normally so it can release excess water and fluids from the sweat glands and the skin pores naturally. Treat your feet to some soothing and cooling treats every once in a while.

Symptoms

Foot sweating can show several symptoms that could pinpoint the disease to hyperhidrosis.
First off, you will feel that your foot gets cold and wet, even under normal weather conditions. It is okay to feel cold during the winter. However, if you literally have cold feet even in the summer heat, you got yourself a problem right there.

Foul odor when taking your shoes off is also an indication that you have pedal hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis causes the foot to produce sweat abnormally, and weat is the favorite breeding place of bacteria. People with hyperhidrosis are more prone to developing foot infections and odors.

It is normal to slip if you step on something wet or slimy. However, it's a different thing if you feel you're slipping in your own shoes. This is yet another sign that you have hyperhidrosis. If your sandals or shoes are dripping after using them for a short period of time, then you must see a doctor to have the problem addressed.

Cures

There are many medications that are used to treat foot sweating. The use of antiperspirants is the most common treatment procedure. Iontophoresis is another good method of cure the disease. There's also a surgical way of treating the problem and the procedure is called sympathectomy.