Plantar Hyperhidrosis - Sweaty Feet

Occurrence

Plantar Hyperhidrosis is characterized by intense sweating of the feet. It is a very common ailment affecting around 20% of the population, but only for a minority it reaches psychosocially debilitating levels. It may appear isolated (common) or associated with other types of hyperhidrosis, particularly abnormous handsweat, a special disorder known as palmo-plantar hyperhidrosis

Bromhidrosis (unpleasant odor) is often associated with excessive sweating of the feet, due to the splitting of organic substances by microorganisms in the moist environment on the skin surface or inside the footwear.

Symptoms and consequences

Mycosis

Excessive foot sweat leads to several problems:

• macerated skin (increased vulnerability)
• mycosis (growth of fungi)
• early wear of shoes (often a pair of shoes is worn down after just a few weeks)
• difficulties in wearing certain types of footwear (e.g. sandals)

In addition, psychosocial discomfort (professional life, social and even familiar relationsships) is common when bromhidrosis is associated with hyperhidrosis.

Without doubt, plantar hyperhidrosis may have a negative impact on the quality of life of many individuals and may be really debilitating for some.

Treatment

Often measures aimed at reducing the activity of the sweat glands are not sufficient, but have to be combined with disinfection of the skin and the footware if bromhidrosis is the main problem.