Foot sweat

Dr. Karpati on Foot Care

•  Foot sweat
•  Foot powders
•  Foot pain
•  Blisters & skin
•  Toenails

1. Question:
I have been having a problem with the feet, summer or winter they sweat they have odor. I have been buying new shoes because they are ruined, I change the socks two times in a day. I use powder about every two hours. I bought Dr. Scholl's inserts in the past and only used them once. Can your product help? Or do you know what else I can use; this problem is embarrassing and depressing.

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
I am happy to give you advice on ways to control your sweaty feet problem, and from your e-mail, I can see why you are distressed! I am a big advocate of “try the simple stuff first”. My first recommendation is to try Summer Soles for these simple reasons:
1. Foot odor begins from the sweating and lingering of moisture on one’s feet. Summer Soles work to help control odor by dispersing away the wetness from your feet.
2. The sweaty feet you are describing are usually caused by the improper function of what is called the “sympathetic nervous system” which controls sweating of the feet. Though Summer Soles won’t keep your feet from sweating, they will make your feet feel drier by wicking the sweat away.
3. Summer Soles also acts as a barrier between your foot and the factory insoles of your shoes to help prevent deterioration of your shoes. This will allow to keep your shoes longer!
If you still have some foot odor, you can buy some tea bags; the stronger the better – steep a pot full of tea for about 5-10 minutes, let the tea cool down, pour it into a basin and soak your feet in the tea for 10 minutes. The tannic acid in tea helps to reduce foot odor! Soap and water will remove the tea stains on your feet. Do this daily, making a fresh pot every time, until you can see a podiatrist. There is a prescription for Formalyde-10 spray. This spray is designed for certain types of foot odor and it is as strong as it gets.



2. Question:
Is there a reason why this problem exists? In other words, can it be related to thyroid problems or any other disorders?

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
Excessive sweating may indeed be a symptom of other medical conditions including hyperthyroidism, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, lymphoma, hypoglycemia, parasites, metabolic dysfunction, diabetes, liver disease, menopause and psychological disorders such as panic attacks. Some medications may also cause excessive sweating. In the cases where no causes are found, known as idiopathic or primary hyperhidrosis, overactivity of the nerves of the sympathetic nervous system, which send signals to the sweat gland of the skin, seems to be the culprit.



3. Question:
How do you know if you have Hyperhidrosis?

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
Simply put, your feet sweat A LOT! There are some patients I see with this problem who carry towel with them to pat their hands and/or feet dry and who have beads of sweat form on their feet within the first minute of my evaluation! Everyone has different extremes even in the realm of patients with this condition. There is a wonderful site created by the International Hyperhidrosis Society that has a wealth of information. Click here to visit their website.

Everyone’s feet sweat! The beauty of Summer Soles is that even with these different extremes, Summer Soles are able to keep your feet feeling dry and comfortable!



4. Question:
Everyday I go to school with sport shoes. We have to wear that because of the school rules. I sweat a lot from my feet. I try to do a a lot of things but it don't work for me. I am always sad and scared of going crazy with this issue. I feel there is no hope everyday... I want to know what I should do about this problem. I hope you can help because I have school tomorrow... Another bad day... Please help!

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
Don’t despair! Summer Soles are here to help! Summer Soles will help absorb the sweat off your feet and socks to help keep you comfortable. They are your best first defense against sweaty feet and they really do work! Remember, all the sweat that has already gathered onto the soles of your shoes will make your feet smell bad. Summer Soles will add that layer of protection between your feet and the soles of your shoes! Next, try to always wear cotton or the newer athletic socks with your shoes. Nylon socks or no socks at all will make your feet sweat more and smell worse! Bring an extra pair of socks to school with you and change them mid way through school if possible. Also, try Dr. Smith's Deodorizing Foot Wash if your feet have a bad odor.



5. Question:
I've had a terrible problem with foot sweating and smelling for the past 15 years – it originated at a hugely stressful time in my life and also occurred when I was having mercury removed from my teeth. Do you know what physiologic system is involved? Also, what can be done for the smell? I believe the smell is not just due to bacteria, but from release of toxins.

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
I do not know for a fact that your problem is from a release of toxins but I would suspect that if toxins were a factor, then your foot odor would have decreased over the course of the past 15 years given that there is less in your system now. I do know that the odor from bacteria can be controlled by first drawing away the sweat from your feet so it does not stagnate. This can be accomplished effectively with Summer Soles. Next, be sure to change your socks often if you can (use cotton or the newer athletic synthetics) and avoid nylon sock at all cost as this will aggravate your situation. Another helpful product to control odor is Dr. Smith's Deodorizing Foot Wash.



6. Question:
My feet will tend to sweat all the time. Sometimes there is an odor depending what hosiery I am wearing. I know if I wear cotton fabric that should help, but that can't help when I wear heels. How can I minimize the odor? It's pretty embarrassing!

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
To get right to the point, first you need to cut down the sweat which causes the odor. You could not pick a better product than Summer Soles for this. Nylon is the WORST for making feet sweat so start “Summer Sole-ing” your shoes and sandals to help wick most of it away. Next, to help cut down on the odor, Dr. Smith's brand makes a product called Deodorizing Foot Wash which you can apply directly to your feet. If you still have problems, add a spritz of any underarm antiperspirant to your feet in the morning.



7. Question:
I have tried all kinds of treatment, powders, soaking two prescriptions, inserts, deodorants and nothing seems to work. What else can you recommend? This is such an embarrassment I can hardly stand to be around people. I need help! I wonder if acupuncture could help?

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
It really sounds like you have run the gamut of conservative treatment for hyperhidrosis! At this point, you make a very good candidate for Botox injections in the feet. This is an extreme control for people who have tried EVERYTHING and still sweat excessively. I must warn you that these injections can be painful sometimes requiring as many as 50 per foot and only lasts for several months. The good news is that the majority of the people who have had this done are extremely satisfied despite the temporary discomfort and say it is worth the trouble! Final thought, while you research Botox as an alternative, please go ahead and try some Summer Soles. At the very least, they will absorb and wick much of this moisture away and keep those feet feeling more comfortable!



8. Question:
About a year ago my feet started sweating. I have never had a sweat problem prior to this. My feet sweat excessively and the odor they cause is literally awful! They not only sweat extreme but they are hot like an oven as soon as I put socks and shoes on. They also have a burning sensation. This isn't a little issue, it actually somewhat limits and controls my life. it is the most uncomfortable, panful and bothersome thing in my life. I have tried Drysol and Dryoff and they don't work at all. Please help me on what to do. I'm considering Lumbar Sympathectomy.

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
Your symptoms do not sound strictly like hyperhidrosis alone. The symptoms you are describing are seen in people with pedal neuropathy. Pedal neuropathy, easily put, is the slow death of the sensory nerves of the feet. This can be seen with various disease processes, most commonly diabetes. If you have a history of diabetes in your family and have never been tested, then I would not waste anytime in doing so. I suggest you also appoint with a neurologist who can test specific nerves to help eliminate nerve injury and neuropathy as causative factors.



9. Question:
I'm 33 years young female. My soles have become very slippery & smooth, maybe 'cause of sweating. (I walk a lot, will be on my feet a lot). My knee hurts. Please suggest me the shoes I should go for.

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
The type of shoe you need depends on what you are using the shoe for (walking for exercise vs. walking as part of your job vs. on your feet standing a lot in your occupation) and what foot type you have. These are separate issues than finding a shoe that will help alleviate the sweating. You would really need to have your feet examined by a podiatrist to determine what foot type you have and how this affects your gait. Shoes, especially athletic shoes, are made differently to meet the different foot types and problems. Given you also have knee pain, you may also want to be evaluated for possible functional orthotics. These are made custom to your feet to help correct abnormal gait and properly support your foot and ankle. Having a good “foundation” so to speak, is an important aspect of body alignment and joint function. For the sweating, besides Summer Soles, you may want to look into the Geox shoe. It is a breathable shoe that has a patented system with a semi-permeable membrane that absorbs sweat, yet keeps water out!



10. Question:
I have a nine year old daughter who's feet and hands sweat constantly. When she uses the mouse on the computer it looks like she wiped it with a wet rag. Her feet make all of her shoes smell horrible. She can't wear sandals because of the amount of sweat in her shoes. It looks like she just walked through a puddle. She is starting to get embarrassed and recently stopped going to gymnastics because of this. I need a solution that will work on a nine year old.

My 9 year old granddaughter has sweaty feet and hands. Her mother and I are trying and looking everywhere for shoes that will absorb the sweat. She does not like the look of Birkenstocks so when I saw this website I decided to try them out – I hope they work. She is too young for medication that will help her – any ideas?

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
I hope you do not mind me addressing you both since it appears to be the same person you are writing about! There is a product called Certain-Dri which I believe I saw selling at Walgreens. It is a very strong topical anti-perspirant specifically formulated to address this type of problem. It should help some and the Summer Soles will do the rest!



11. Question:
I work in a factory and have to wear steel toe shoes. I never really had a problem with my sweaty feet till working 10 hr days. I have tried powders, but they just get wet and stick to my feet. I change my socks at work once but I know I could change them on somedays 3 or 4 times a day. My feet get sore and feel raw and hurt. I soak my feet and try to take care of them as soon as I am off work. What can I do ?

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
Keep up what you are doing! Use the synthetic wicking sock you can find at sport stores instead of the cotton ones you are probably using and get to a podiatrist for a prescription of Formalyde-10. This stuff is strong enough to dry you out. Use any over the counter anti-perspirant for underarms on the soles of your feet once daily until you can get to your podiatrist. Summer Soles will definitely help to disperse some of that sweat so it is not just sitting in your boots and will help keep your socks drier.



12. Question:
Prior to finding this miracle product four months ago, I have been terribly miserable and embarrassed because of the odor from my feet/shoes due to my sweaty feet. It was to the point where my co-workers didn't want to sit anywhere near me and tease me behind my back (strange that I only experience this problem when I wear shoes). I am having to change out the Summer Soles quite frequently because of odor (must add sooo much better than before prior to Summer Soles) and desperately hoping that you please help me with products to use adjacent to Summer Soles. Additionally what brands or product of underarm antiperspirant (not deodorant) spray do you recommend because I cannot find the sprays at the stores (CVS, Walmart, Giant, Rite Aid, etc.). Please help me.

Dr. Karpati's Answer:
So sorry to hear what you are going through! I hope I can help! First of all, I am sure you have already purchased the scented Summer Soles which are absolutely fabulous and will knock out some more of that odor! As far as anti-perspirants are concerned, any brand is fine. What I want you to start doing immediately, as crazy as it sounds, is go out and buy some tea bags; the stronger the better! Seep a pot full of tea for about 5-10 minutes, let the tea cool down, pour it into a basin and soak your feet in the tea for 10 minutes. The tannic acid in tea helps to reduce foot odor! Soap and water will remove the tea stains on your feet. Do this daily, making a fresh pot every time, until you can see a podiatrist. When you do, ask for a prescription for Formalyde-10 spray. This spray is designed for your type of foot odor and I am sure it will help! This is as strong as it gets!



Medical conditions are fact-dependent, so in addition to Dr. Karpati's insights, it is important you consult with your personal physician before undergoing any footcare treatment.

Dr. Adriana Karpati is a trusted Summer Soles Advisor and frequently tests Summer Soles products before they are brought to the public. Over the years, she has answered countless footcare and podiatry-related questions – many of which are posted here. Her practice is located in Grapevine, Texas. Her office can be reached through www.faant.com, for medical appointments and established patients only please.