What to do for sweaty feet

sswimming and sliding in the summer months is great – if you’re at a water park or a pool, that is. Otherwise, it’s the sad reality of sweaty feet.

“I have literally had patients come in and tell me they were sweating so much they lost their shoes,” says Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, professor of dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and president of the International Hyperhidrosis Society. “Or they can’t wear heels because they’re afraid of slipping and breaking their ankle. It can range from mild and uncomfortable to very significant.”

In rare cases, sweaty feet are caused by hyperhidrosis, a medical condition that causes excessive sweating and affects different parts of the body, such as armpits, hands, and feet. It has a strong genetic component, says Glaser: More than half of people with this disease have at least one relative who has it. They sweat even when it’s not hot outside, so much so that their clothes or shoes become completely soaked. “We don’t know exactly what the cause is, but we do know that in these individuals the sweat glands are completely normal,” she says. “It appears this problem is caused by a part of the brain that is supposed to regulate temperature.” Treatment includes iontophoresis (which involves using a small device that produces electrical currents that block sweat glands) and Botox injections that usually last up to six months.

For most people, however, sweaty feet are simply the result of wearing the wrong shoes or socks – or of spending hours outside on a hot day being active. It’s worth addressing the problem because the fungus likes sweaty feet, opening the door to infections like athlete’s foot, which often starts between the toes. “If you put a cotton sock on your foot, stick it in your shoe, and then you have that dark, damp environment where it’s wet all the time, the fungus grows,” says Jay Spector, a podiatrist at Atlanta Sports Podiatry at Johns Creek, Georgia. “It’s like if you had a leak in your bathtub and didn’t realize it, and you had stagnant water for a while.”

With that in mind, we asked experts the best way to prevent and deal with sweaty feet.

Choose shoes that let your feet breathe

Wearing tight shoes that don’t allow for good airflow — like dress shoes or boots — can worsen sweating. Instead, look for lightweight athletic shoes with mesh on the outside, advises Danielle DesPrés, a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon in New York. “Mesh has airflow,” she says. Shoes without it won’t be as breathable.

Some brands, such as Geox, sell shoes designed for ventilation, says Glaser. When you go shopping, she suggests asking the salesperson serving you if they have any recommendations for sweaty feet. “People are embarrassed, but it’s very common,” she says. Shoe store workers generally know how to keep feet cool.

See more information: The health benefits of wearing shoes at home

Another strategy, adds Glaser, is to add insoles to shoes; they help absorb moisture so shoes stay drier for longer. Summer soles, for example, makes removable shoe liners that can be used in sandals, heels, and other types of shoes. And if possible, take off your shoes during the workday. “I typically suggest to patients that if they’re sitting at a table and they have a moment, they take their feet out of their shoes,” she says. “Give them some air.”

If you have to wear certain shoes at work, get creative

Many of DesPrés’ clients are doormen and security guards – people who are on their feet all day, in the heat, with heavy shoes. Your feet tend to swell during your shift, making shoes tighter and more uncomfortable. However, they are required to wear black shoes, she says. So DesPrés found a solution: “I told some of them to get a pair of sneakers that were really comfortable and supportive, because they often have other arch and foot problems as well,” she says. “Then paint them black” – covering light-colored mesh, brand names and other markings – “and now you have your black shoes.” Workers who have tried it, she adds, say it works. Some companies also make supportive black sneakers that can pass for dress shoes.

Put your thoughts in your socks

Socks play an important role in the sweaty feet equation. Spector is a marathon runner and has learned that the key to reducing sweat-soaked feet is to wear moisture-wicking acrylic socks. (His favorite brand is Balega.) Merino wool works similarly – but he avoids cotton. With lightweight wool or sweat-wicking socks, “I’ll go for a 20-mile run, take the socks off, and it’s like I just put them on,” he says. “If I wore cotton socks, they would weigh 5 kilos.”

There is one time, however, when you should ditch your socks: overnight. “At some point, our feet need to breathe,” he says. “We don’t want to wear socks 24/7,” especially because there could be bacteria or dirt inside them. Going sockless for eight hours while you sleep is an excellent opportunity to air out your feet, he adds.

Use antiperspirant – or tea bags

Apply some antiperspirant to the soles of your feet, advises DesPrés. Just make sure it’s a spray, not a roll-on, which helps ensure it won’t be slippery. Some people use antifungal powder on their feet, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. “But depending on how much your feet sweat, sometimes that dust can get all stuck to your shoes,” she says, making antiperspirant the superior choice. If your favorite brand isn’t enough, DesPrés suggests Drysol topical antiperspirant; is available over the counter and contains aluminum chloride hexahydrate, which helps treat overactive sweat glands.

see more information: Put your shoes back on. Here’s the problem with going barefoot

A slightly less conventional strategy: Boil a few bags of unflavored black tea in a pint of hot water and pour some cold water into the mixture. “Let it cool and dip your feet in it,” says DesPrés. “Tannic acid [from the tea] it helps kill bacteria and seals off some of the sweat glands.” It sounds strange, she acknowledges, but some people find that drinking tea at least once a week makes their feet less sweaty.

Dry your shoes when you take them off

Taking your feet out of sweat-soaked shoes is unpleasant – as is trying to put them back on. Shoe dryers can help: They blow cool air onto your shoes, like a hairdryer. Spector runs twice a day, and if it rains in the morning and his shoes get wet, he uses the dryer. “At 4:30 p.m., when I go running again, my shoes are no longer wet,” he says. Another idea: place your sweaty shoes in front of the refrigerator. It has a check system at the bottom, Spector points out, and the cool air that comes out can help evaporate moisture from the shoes.

Give your shoes a bath

People often worry that their sweaty shoes will start to smell bad. That’s why DesPrés recommends spraying the inside with Lysol once or twice a week. “This will kill any bacteria and fungi that are contained in it,” she says, thus improving the odor. You can also throw some shoes in the washing machine. DesPrés learned, however, that the standard detergent used to wash clothes isn’t always enough, so she adds Pinho-Sol to the load. It is a disinfectant that also helps to deodorize.

see more information: Is it unhealthy to sweat a lot?

Another way to keep your shoes from starting to smell, adds DesPrés, is to avoid wearing them every day. If you find one you really like, buy two or three pairs, she suggests. Rotating what you wear every day gives them more time to breathe and prevents odor buildup.

Plan ahead

Always carry an extra pair of socks with you when you are out and about. If you’re playing a three-hour beach volleyball game or running a 5K and your feet are really sweaty, you’ll be glad you did it. “Halfway through the event, you can put on new socks,” says Spector.

It’s also helpful to always carry antiperspirant wipes or a travel bottle of antiperspirant. And consider packing a pair of shoes to change into after your outdoor activity. For example, “You can bring sandals to wear after a hike,” says DesPrés. This can help your feet stay dry and have time to air out. It’s one of many little strategies that can help ensure you don’t have to break a sweat at the thought of sweaty feet.