Excessive foot sweating: causes and solutions

Why do the feet sweat?

There are areas of the skin that are particularly rich in sweat glands, such as the forehead, armpits, palm of the hands and soles of the foot. Sweat consists of water with some mineral salts, and when the water evaporates from the skin, it takes heat with it which allows the blood to cool. Sweating is essential for the dissipation of body heat when the environmental temperature is high.
When wearing closed shoes, particularly within hot environments, sweat produced by the feet usually cannot evaporate and so, remains on the skin where it permeates the stratum corneum of the soles of the feet. Keeping the feet in humid, damp conditions such as this is one of the main causes of trench foot, whereby the stratum corneum becomes thick and white.

Trench foot

Trench foot can occur for many reasons. In addition to wearing closed shoes in hot places, trench foot can also appear: after prolonged periods of marching or running or in those who must wear boots over long periods of time (e.g. soldiers, gardeners, horseback riders, laborers).
The sweat that has not been able to evaporate from the skin causes maceration and the excessive swelling of the stratum corneum, which can cause itching, burning and redness. After repeated episodes of trench foot, the skin may go into distress and desquamate intensely.

Bad odor of the Trench foot

Sweat itself is odorless. However, when imbibition of the stratum corneum occurs, the bacteria of the skin begin to proliferate and digest the proteins of the stratum corneum. This causes the release of particularly foul-smelling and pungent sulfur metabolites into the air.

Pitted keratolysis

Pitted keratolysis usually occurs in conjunction with plantar sweating. Pitted keratolysis occurs when corine bacteria microorganisms colonize the sole of the foot. They begin to digest the proteins on the stratum corneum, causing a mothball-like pattern and the formation of craters of a varying size. While pitted keratolysis is asymptomatic, it causes a particularly unpleasant odor.

How to treat sweaty feet

The first and easiest way to prevent foot odor is to wear breathable footwear whenever possible. In addition, apply Astringent Gel after the feet have been washed and dried. Thanks to aluminum chloride, Astringent Gel reduces sweating and prevents further bacterial growth, which reduces foot odor and any other present symptoms.
During treatment, avoid foot baths with antiseptics and do not overly wash the feet, as both can aggravate symptoms and cause maceration.