Antiperspirants are considered the first line of treatment for excessive sweating and can be used nearly anywhere on the body where sweating is a problem. That's right, antiperspirants are not just for your underarms – you can use them on your hands, feet, face, back, chest, and even groin.
An antiperspirant deodorant is an easy-to-use remedy for sweaty feet. These products work by temporarily blocking the sweat glands. The American Academy of Dermatology recommend applying antiperspirant to dry feet before bed and washing it off in the morning.
If you need to quickly cut down on your foot odor, it's safe to apply antiperspirant or deodorant spray to your feet. Try various types of antifungal and antibacterial soaps until you find one that works best for you. Make your own foot soak using Listerine or vinegar.
Wash your feet daily with an antibacterial soap; be sure to wash between the toes. Dry the feet thoroughly, then apply cornstarch, foot powder, or an antifungal powder to your feet. Wear wicking socks made of natural or acrylic fiber blends that draw the moisture away from your feet instead of trapping it.
Having hyperhidrosis or excessively sweaty feet could affect your foot health. When your feet sweat, your skin gets wet. Wearing socks and shoes traps this moisture against your skin, creating a welcoming environment for bacterial growth. Bacteria naturally collect on your skin, socks, and shoes.
Your feet produce a lot of sweat. They have more sweat glands than any other part of the body. These glands release sweat all throughout the day to help cool your body and keep your skin moist.
Thoroughly cleaning your feet is more than rinsing them in a quick shower. Dr. Rowland recommends soaking your feet in a mixture of vinegar and water or Epsom salt and water. For a salt soak, dissolve half a cup of Epsom salt in a tub or large bowl of warm water and soak for about 10 to 20 minutes.
Sweat causes your skin to break down and also creates a moist environment that encourages bacteria and fungi to grow. As bacteria and fungi grow, they release chemicals that smell bad, leading to smelly feet. Everyone has bacteria and fungi on their skin. And everyone's feet sweat.
It's not uncommon for new shoes to rub your feet the wrong way at first and cause a few blisters. As home blog Real Simple suggests, a bit of gel deodorant on key friction locations can reduce the stress. The gel acts as a moderate lubricant, which can obviate the need to buy dedicated blister blockers.
OTC Antiperspirants for Feet: Kleinert's Dry Feet Clinical Antiperspirant is the best OTC antiperspirant we have found for feet. It has 15% Aluminum Choloride which is stronger than that used for underarms. We recomemnd trying this for about three weeks once per day.
Rub it once on the top of each foot across your knuckles and over the arch, and below from the ball of your foot to the heel. Just make sure your feet get their own bar of deodorant, and that you keep your feet's deodorant away from your armpits.
"Perspiration levels are not as high compared to daytime and usually the 'deodorizing' is most important during the daytime. While using it occasionally at bedtime is not harmful, use of deodorants around the clock may be an additional source of unnecessary irritation to the skin."
So, if the bacteria on your foot isn't what causes foot odor, fungus might be the culprit. Many people know the fungus as athlete's foot, and it can also cause the foot to smell unpleasant. Dr. Antonopoulos says other foot odor causes include poor hygiene, wearing the same shoes every day and some disease processes.
Most of the time, foot odor isn't a sign of underlying illness. However, severe sweating and foot odor in every season — not just when it's hot during the summer — could be a sign of hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating even if you aren't overheated.
The physical symptoms associated with anxiety disorder may include: cold, clammy (or sweaty) hands and feet.
Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion, A dermatologist-recommended solution to stop sweaty, smelly feet, Helps prevent blisters, Great for hyperhidrosis.
Moisture-Wicking Fabric
“Moisture-wicking fabrics include polyester, merino wool, and nylon [and they] allow the sweat to evaporate so the socks can dry faster.” Other moisture-wicking materials include lycra and CoolMax technology fabrics, which are a combination of spandex, wool, or cotton.
Apply deodorant anywhere you tend to sweat: While some deodorant brands are meant only for armpits, most can be applied anywhere you sweat (like behind the knees or inner thighs). If you want to keep other areas of your body fresh and dry, check the label first to make sure your deodorant is safe to use anywhere.
Myth 3: Baby powder stops sweaty feet
This has the dual effect of soaking up a limited amount of moisture as well as temporarily constricting the outer body tissue, making skin feel soft and dry. Some powders can help absorb sweat, but this does not stop the accumulation of the bacteria which leads to body odor.
The friction between your legs as you walk will create warmth and reinvigorate the scent throughout the day. Before you slip on your favorite pair of stiletto heels, give your feet a blast of perfume. "Your ankles are always in motion, so it helps project the fragrance wherever you go," says Claisse.
Put on Pulse Points
Your neck, wrists, backs of knees, and other pulse points emit more heat than other parts of your body. And that heat actually activates and maximizes your perfume.