Plantar Hyperhidrosis (Sweaty Feet)
If having sweaty feet interferes with your daily life, including problems like persistently wet shoes and socks and intense foot odor, it’s likely you have a medical condition called plantar hyperhidrosis. Often, a person with excessively sweaty feet also has sweaty armpits or sweaty hands, known as palmar hyperhidrosis. Beverly Hills Physicians recognizes the shame and embarrassment that results from having this condition, and how it can complicate social interactions.
Our board-certified surgeons at Beverly Hills Physicians have a special interest in hyperhidrosis treatment. We understand that treatment for sweaty feet can put an end to what can be an embarrassing nuisance at best, and a debilitating concern in social interactions at worst. Feet, hands and the armpits are the most likely to have this problem, but we can also treat facial hyperhidrosis and other excessive sweating problems.
Do I Have Plantar Hyperhidrosis?
Chances are if you experience excessive feet sweating, it’s likely you already have a feeling you suffer from plantar hyperhidrosis.
Some of the symptoms include:
Feet drip with sweat without excessive activity
Soaking through a pair of socks repeatedly throughout the day
Excessive foot odor
Inability to wear flip flops, sandals or high heels because of feet being slippery
Not wanting to try on a new pair of shoes in public
Prone to fungal infections
What Causes Sweaty Hands?
It can be a real hassle dealing with excessive sweating, whether it’s the palmer, plantar, facial, or axillary hyperhidrosis. This problem affects 1 to 2% of the population, usually starting at childhood or adolescence. There can be many genetic or environmental causes for hyperhidrosis and it can sometimes be unknown what causes it. However, often sweaty palms are the result of an overactive, malfunctioning sympathetic nervous system. This system controls basic functions that happen automatically, such as your heartbeat, and also stimulates the sweat glands to produce sweat.
Beverly Hills Physicians has various treatments to help control you palmar hyperhidrosis; surgery being one of the last resorts, but an effective choice for those who have uncontrollable sweating that is untreatable with conservative treatments.
Plantar Hyperhidrosis Treatment
When left untreated, excessive foot sweating often simply continues throughout a person’s life; but fortunately, Beverly Hills Physicians has many treatment options for those who want to free themselves of sweaty feet.
For the majority of people with a sweaty foot problem, conservative treatments are recommended first. Some example includes wearing socks only made from a natural fiber, such as cotton, so the skin can breathe. Feet should be left open to the air as often as possible. Synthetic shoes and man-made fibers tend to make plantar hyperhidrosis worse, and should be avoided. Feet should be washed daily with antibacterial soap to prevent fungal infections, particularly in between the toes. Feet must also be dried thoroughly, then a foot powder foot be applied. Extra socks should be carried around when you are not at home, so they can be changed throughout the day.
Nonetheless, when those suffering from plantar hyperhidrosis have made these lifestyle changes to no avail, the Beverly Hills Physicians team can provide prescription care and effective, minimally-invasive surgical treatments to curb sweating. These can involve:
Prescription roll-on antiperspirants. These can be applied directly to the feet.
Botox (botulinum toxin) Injections. These can help temporarily control excessive feet sweating, for about six to nine months.
ETS surgery. This procedure is used as the last resort, but it can effectively interrupt nerve signals that tell the body to sweat excessively. Also called lumbar sympathectomy, this procedure is a new, minimally-invasive treatment that is known to be highly successful.
Contact Beverly Hills Physicians
ou may just want plantar hyperhidrosis treatment, but Beverly Hills Physicians also treats other excessive sweating problems, such as axillary (armpit), palmar (hand) and facial hyperhidrosis. Whatever your situation with excessive sweating, BHP can be depended on for your comfort, convenience and overall health. For further information, please call 800-788-1416 or request a consultation online.