The Real Reason Your Feet Are So Sweaty

Your sweat is 99% water and 1% salt and fat, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, and up to a quart of it evaporates every day. About 5% of the global population, or well over 300 million people, lives with extreme sweating, according to the International Hyperhidrosis Society. As it turns out, your armpits aren't the only area of the body susceptible to excessive sweating. Of the millions of sweat glands contained within our body, the undersides of our feet have many of them, but what does it mean when they are constantly sweaty?

Anyone is susceptible to excessive feet sweating year-round (via National Health Service). This can lead to an unpleasant odor when the sweat soaks into your shoes and they do not dry before being worn again. Medically, foot odor is known as bromodosis. But what causes our feet to sweat so frequently and who is most prone to sweaty feet?

According to the National Health Service (NHS), the people most prone to sweaty feet are those who wear tight shoes or experience high levels of stress. Other factors that can increase the frequency of foot sweating include medical conditions or hormonal changes. Therefore, adolescents and pregnant women may find themselves experiencing sweatier feet, as well as those diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating.

If you find you are prone to sweaty feet, the NHS suggests using the same deodorant or antiperspirant that you use on your armpits on your feet. You may also want to try utilizing medicated insoles, which naturally eliminate odors in addition to providing support. Lastly, keeping your feet dry and ventilated will help reduce sweat output. You can do so by changing your socks at least daily and wearing shoes made of breathable materials. Consult your doctor if you think your level of sweating is abnormal, as this can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.