Why do you get sweaty feet?

Sweaty feet

Why do my feet sweat?

Sweaty feet are perfectly normal.
Sweat glands serve to regulate our body temperature—a complex, natural form of air conditioning. When specific areas of the body get too warm, the sweat glands secrete perspiration, and the resulting evaporation provides a cooling effect. Sweating is therefore a natural process.

Our hands and feet contain the highest number of sweat glands (350 to 370 sweat glands per cm²). Hands perspire just as much as feet, but they are better ventilated; after all, they are exposed to the open air more than your feet are. Within 24 hours, your feet secrete approximately 1 centiliter of moisture.

Why do sweaty feet smell so bad?

Fresh sweat is odorless. It begins to smell unpleasant when it cannot evaporate and remains trapped in socks and shoes for a while. The odor is caused by lactic acid bacteria on the skin. The characteristic smell of sweat thus arises from the breakdown of bacterial products and processes, rather than from the sweat itself.

During menopause and puberty, sweat develops a particularly unpleasant odor; this is due to hormonal changes. The sweaty feet of babies and children are virtually odorless.

You now understand that feet confined in warm shoes all day—without proper evaporation—can cause that pungent sweat odor.

Tips for sweaty feet and foot odor.

1. Walk barefoot or wear open footwear as much as possible. If that is not always possible, wear shoes with a high leather content. Leather can regulate foot perspiration, thereby creating an optimal environment for your feet.

Woolen slippers also offer those positive wearing qualities and provide excellent moisture regulation.

2. Also, let shoes and slippers air out regularly so that the absorbed moisture can evaporate.

3. Wear socks as much as possible, preferably made of natural materials. For reasons of hygiene and foot climate, it is best to wear socks—ideally wool or cotton—with closed footwear. Walking socks are also a good choice, for instance, as they are designed to wick moisture away.

4. Put on clean socks every day, even if they don’t smell dirty yet.

5. Wash socks at 60°C; naturally, this does not apply to wool socks.
Wool socks should only be hand-washed or washed on a wool cycle at 30°C. You can use a wool detergent for wool socks, but do not use fabric softener. Never tumble-dry wool; instead, let it air-dry, and do not dry it on a radiator.

If you can’t get the smell of sweat out of your socks, soak them in natural vinegar overnight and wash them the next day as described above. Never use soda on wool socks!

You can wash wool-felt slippers using the same settings as for wool socks. We advise against washing sheepskin slippers in the washing machine and would rather you didn’t hand-wash them either. It is better to air them out regularly and spray them with Collonil Odor Cleaner to eliminate odors and kill any remaining bacteria.

6. Wash your feet regularly. It is best to do this in the morning using warm water and soap, then rinse with cold water. Dry them thoroughly, including between the toes.

You can also apply a nourishing and restorative cream to your feet. Taking foot baths is also very pleasant.

The Saicara foot care products in our range contribute significantly to a healthy foot environment. Saicara care products are also frequently used by certified pedicurists.

7. Remove excess calluses yourself or have them removed by a medical pedicurist. Calluses consist of dead skin, which provides a veritable feast for bacteria. You can remove calluses yourself using a foot sponge or a pumice stone. Afterward, regularly apply Saicara Footrepair to your feet; this will prevent calluses from forming or slow down their return, while also leaving your feet incredibly soft.

8. Use a shoe deodorizer for your shoes. If your shoes or slippers still don’t smell fresh after airing them out, you can also use a shoe deodorizer that kills bacteria.

9. If our tips for sweaty feet don’t help, you can also ask your GP or pedicurist for advice.

We hope our tips contribute to a pleasant and healthy environment for your feet. It is important to take good care of your feet; after all, they work hard for you and deserve that little bit of extra attention.