Questions People Ask a Podiatrist About Sweaty Feet
If you are suffering from a condition in which your feet become excessively sweaty no matter what you do to keep them dry, you may have a condition that podiatrists call plantar hyperhidrosis. To help you understand more about this condition, here are the answers to some common questions people ask.
What Is Plantar Hyperhidrosis? -- The name stands for excessive foot sweat and is a condition in which your sweat glands create a substantial amount of sweat, more than is necessary to keep your feet cool. Most people who have normal sweat glands produce sweat when their body becomes warm enough and their body needs to cool down. But people with hyperhidrosis produce sweat in their feet regardless of whether their body is warm, resulting in a condition that can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Hyperhidrosis is also commonly seen in the palms and armpits.
What Causes Sweaty Feet? -- Podiatrists can't point to one main cause of sweaty feet, but in some instances the condition is hereditary. If someone in your family has over productive sweat glands, you may inherit that condition. Podiatrists have also found that people who drink alcohol on a regular basis may develop sweaty feet, because consuming alcohol acts as a trigger for your sweat glands to produce more sweat to rid your body of the toxins in the alcohol. Another cause of sweaty feet is weather that is excessively hot, which can cause the sweat glands to become overactive. Podiatrists have also identified constant stress as a reason why some people's sweat glands produce too much sweat.
What Are the Treatment Options? -- There are several treatment methods that podiatrists recommend for sweaty feet. One of the most effective treatments is the use of botox, because it acts as a barrier between the sweat glands and the nerves, blocking the signals that trigger your body to produce sweat. When treating sweaty feet with botox, podiatrists will have to inject you every few months until the sweat glands revert back to their normal production. Podiatrists also recommend that you buy shoes made with breathable material and that you stop wearing thick socks. You must also be prepared to change your socks several times a day, because keeping your feet dry is important to prevent bacteria from developing, which can lead to Athlete's Foot. If your sweaty feet do not respond to these treatment methods, podiatrists can use a microwave device that can destroy some of the sweat glands in your feet without damaging the surrounding tissue.
For more information or if you think you may suffer from plantar hyperhidrosis, contact a podiatrist, like those at Dapto Podiatry Clinic, today.
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