Why do you get sweaty feet?
Sweaty Feet
Why Do My Feet Sweat?
Foot perspiration is completely normal.
Sweat glands regulate our body temperature—a complex and natural air conditioning system. When certain areas of the body become too warm, the sweat glands release moisture, which then cools the body as it evaporates. Sweating is therefore a natural and essential process.
Our hands and feet have the highest concentration of sweat glands—about 350 to 370 glands per square meter. Feet sweat just as much as hands, but hands are better ventilated since they’re more often exposed to open air. In just 24 hours, your feet can release about 1 centiliter of moisture.
Why Do Sweaty Feet Smell So Bad?
Fresh sweat doesn’t smell. The unpleasant odor arises when sweat can’t evaporate and gets trapped inside socks and shoes for a while.
The smell is caused by lactic acid bacteria on the skin. These bacteria break down sweat, and it’s the byproducts of this process that produce the characteristic odor—not the sweat itself.
During puberty and menopause, sweat tends to smell more intense due to hormonal changes. Baby and children's feet, in contrast, are almost completely odorless.
It’s now clear why feet enclosed in warm shoes all day and unable to ventilate can develop such a strong, unpleasant odor.
Tips to Combat Sweaty Feet and Odor
1. Go barefoot or wear open footwear as often as possible.
If that’s not feasible, choose shoes made largely of leather, which helps regulate moisture and provides an optimal foot climate.
Wool slippers also offer great moisture-regulating properties and are highly breathable.
2. Air out shoes and slippers regularly to allow absorbed moisture to evaporate.
3. Wear socks as often as possible, preferably made from natural materials. For hygiene and breathability, you should always wear socks with closed shoes—preferably wool or cotton.
Technical or hiking socks are also great as they are designed to wick moisture away from the skin.
4. Change into fresh socks every day, even if they don’t smell.
5. Wash socks at 60°C, unless they’re wool.
Wool socks should be hand washed or washed using a wool cycle at 30°C. Use a special wool detergent, never fabric softener.
Do not tumble dry wool—air dry them instead, and avoid direct heat like radiators.
If you can’t get the odor out of your socks, soak them in natural vinegar overnight, then wash them as usual.
Never use soda on wool socks!
Felted wool slippers can be washed under the same conditions as wool socks.
We recommend not washing sheepskin slippers—not even by hand. Instead, air them out regularly and spray them with Collonil Odor Cleaner to eliminate bacteria and odor.
6. Wash your feet regularly—ideally in the morning with warm water and soap, followed by a cold rinse. Dry well, especially between the toes.
You can also apply a nourishing and healing foot cream afterwards.
Foot baths are another great way to refresh and care for your feet.
Our Saicara foot care products support a healthy foot climate and are often recommended by certified pedicurists.
Watch our YouTube video for more info.
7. Remove excess callus, or have it done by a medical pedicurist.
Callus is essentially dead skin and a feast for bacteria.
You can remove it yourself using a foot sponge or pumice stone.
Afterward, apply Saicara Foot Repair Cream regularly to keep callus from returning.
Your feet will also feel incredibly soft.
8. Use a shoe deodorant.
If your shoes or slippers still smell after airing out, try a shoe deodorizer that also kills bacteria.
9. If none of these tips help, consult your GP or a qualified pedicurist.
We hope these tips will help you maintain a healthy and fresh foot environment.
Your feet do a lot of work for you—they deserve some extra care and attention!
