The biology of the skin of the feet
21/09/2023
Eliminating foot odour: the power of Astringent Gel
21/09/2023
Indice
Why do the feet sweat?
There are areas of skin that are particularly rich in sweat glands, such as the forehead, armpits, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Sweating essentially serves to dissipate body heat when the ambient temperature is high.
Sweat consists of water containing a small amount of mineral salts; when the water evaporates from the skin, it draws heat away and the blood cools down.
When wearing closed shoes, the sweat produced by the feet tends not to evaporate but to remain on the skin, particularly on the soles, soaking into the stratum corneum.
The stratum corneum becomes thick and whitish, as if the feet had been kept in water for a long time. This phenomenon is known as ‘trench foot’.
Trench foot
Trench foot do not only occur when one has to wear shoes in very hot conditions, but also after prolonged walking or running, or for those who have to wear boots for long periods, such as horse riders, gardeners, soldiers, etc.
Excessive swelling of the stratum corneum caused by sweat can lead to skin irritation, including itching, a burning sensation and redness.
After repeated episodes of ‘soaked feet’, the skin may become damaged and peel heavily.
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 thing to do, where possible, is to wear breathable footwear.
What you should not do, however, is soak your feet in antiseptics or wash them frequently. These practices are ineffective and may actually make the situation worse by further macerating the skin.
The treatment recommended by DermaClub is to apply Everydeo with Aluminium Chloride after every wash. This antiperspirant reduces sweating whilst also exerting an antibacterial effect, thereby alleviating the symptoms and unpleasant odour associated with excessive sweating.
