When Arizona Heat Brings Sweaty Feet!
Living in an area with hot temperatures, you will experience sweaty feet. They may smell and be uncomfortable. You may find that you don’t want to take off your footwear for fear that someone will smell them. Sweat doesn’t smell bad right away; it happens when shoes don’t have adequate airflow.
Conditions That Increase Foot Odor:
- you are on your feet all day,
- your environment is warm,
- you wear tight shoes,
- or if your footwear is of a material that doesn’t allow sweat to evaporate properly.
It’s important to wash your feet daily, otherwise, bacteria thrive. The same goes for your socks, which should be clean, using a fresh pair each day and changing them if they become too damp from sweat.
How to Help Care For Your Feet
Wash your feet–daily with soap and water, and dry thoroughly. In particular, dry between your toes. You should also ensure to keep your toenails trimmed and clean and see your podiatrist to remove the hardened skin, calluses, from the soles of each foot.
Wear fresh socks–change your socks every day and make sure they are clean. Change them after exercising and wear socks that are of absorbent natural fiber materials. That will help absorb the moisture in your feet. Avoid nylon as that will exacerbate this condition.
Wear the appropriate shoes–avoid synthetic materials in your shoes and make sure that you have shoes that let your feet breathe. Alternating your shoes daily will help as well. An additional tip is to air out your shoes each day and alternate your insoles.
Over the counter treatment–there are antiperspirants that reduce sweat, and they can be applied to your feet. You may also need an antifungal foot spray or powder for the nighttime. A podiatrist may recommend medicated insoles if the condition persists.
People with diabetes, existing skin conditions, peripheral arterial disease, or peripheral neuropathy need to be especially careful that sweaty feet don’t lead to additional complications.
If you have sweaty feet, we can help. The highly specialized team of foot experts at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists in the Tucson, Oro Valley, and Green Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, have experience treating any issues that occur on your feet. Our team of doctors: Christopher M. Funk, D.P.M., FACFAS, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, and Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., will offer the best in technologically advanced methods and cutting edge medical technologies, including the PinPointe FootLaser, and Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT) for chronic pain. Please call (520) 575-0800 and make an appointment.
