Cold Sweaty Feet

If you are experiencing cold sweaty feet, let me tell you, you are not alone. There are a lot of people out there who suffer from this annoying condition. It can indeed be very discomforting, forcing a person to wear closed shoes, so as to avoid the resultant smell from reaching others. Smelly feet are often experienced by people who sweat a lot. On top of that, if hygiene is not maintained, there is always a fear of toenail and other foot infections to develop. Sometimes, a person with sweaty feet may slip and suffer from an accident too! That's why, understanding the causes behind it and taking treatment for the same is of utmost importance.

Causes

In medical terms, sweaty feet condition is known as "Plantar Hyperhidrosis". This condition can be triggered by a number of factors, health conditions and diseases. Here is a list of some of the most common ones:

• Genetics - Researches show that if a close family member suffers from excessive sweating, the chances to develop this condition become manifold.
• In winters, cold sweaty feet may be caused if a person always wears covered shoes. By doing this, he is not letting the extra water and fluids to escape the skin pores and sweat glands, resulting in excessive sweating on the feet.
• Hormonal imbalances in the body can stimulate the sweat glands, resulting in this condition. A hyperactive thyroid gland and menopause in women, are known to trigger excessive sweating.
• If a person is under some medication which does not suit him, it can produce side effects such as cold sweaty feet and hands.
• A person who suffers from stress and anxiety, may experience excessive sweating all over his body, including in his feet and hands.
• It can occur in chain smokers and alcoholics as well.
• Certain health conditions such as heart attack, heart disease, leukemia and lymphoma, may cause excessive sweating in the feet.

Treatment

There are both home remedies as well as medical treatments available to cure the symptoms. Given below are some effective tips for reducing excessive sweating on your feet:

Maintain Hygiene
This is extremely important. Do not let sweat build-up on your feet, otherwise it can lead to bacteria infestation, resulting in smelly feet and foot infections. So, invest in a good medicated soap and wash your feet with it, thrice a day, in the morning, in the evening and before sleeping. In case, you undertake some sports activity, wash your feet immediately after it too. The idea is to not let sweat remain on the feet for long.

Keep the Feet Dry
Keep the feet dry, as much as you can. For this, carry a towel in your bag and whenever you get an opportunity, wipe your feet with it. Dabbing on talcum powder on the feet, every now and then, will reduce the sweating and make your feet feel dry too.

Wear the Right Shoes
Preferably wear an open footwear as it will keep your feet dry. Also, wear socks made of cotton and footwear in some breathable material, so that you do not sweat much.

Watch your Diet
Maintain the right weight by eating a balanced diet. This will ensure that your body's metabolism works properly and you do not sweat in excess. Another thing to do is to give up on foods such as onions, pepper and garlic as these are known to increase the smell emanating from the feet resulting from excessive sweating.

Manage Stress
Cold sweaty feet caused by stress, can be taken care of by undertaking stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. So, incorporate these in your routine, become a little more organized, to reduce stress and the resultant excessive sweating.

Consult a Doctor
If it does not get cured by these home remedies, you should consult a doctor. For mild cases of feet sweating, doctors generally suggest antiperspirants. Then there are oral medications, known as anticholinergic drugs, which can temporarily control the excessive sweating and hence may be prescribed by the doctor for a short while. Besides these, there is Iontophoresis, a medical treatment in which electricity is passed through the sweat glands to reduce sweating as well as botox injections. Both these treatments are generally suggested in extreme cases of sweating. And finally, if nothing yields any result and the condition hampers the normal living of a person, Thoracic Sympathectomy Surgery (ETS) is suggested. Through this surgery, the nerves responsible for excessive sweating are removed.

Cold sweaty feet is not a very serious condition and in most cases, with the above suggested home remedies, it can be kept under check. However, severe cases of foot sweating should be addressed to a doctor immediately, to avoid any infections and diseases on your feet.