Mark Reed, DPM

DABFAS FAPWCA

OC Center for Wound Healing & Foot Care -- Dr. Mark Reed  - USC / UCSF

714-528-3668


Sweaty Smelly Feet

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can be localized to one area or it may be generalized. In the localized type, the most common sites are the palms and soles of the feet. The cause of the excessive sweating is not well understood. There is an emotional component to it in some but not all cases. The excessive moisture contributes to athlete's foot and plantar wart infections. 


Treatment

There are no good oral medications for the control of hyperhidrosis. Topical anti-perspirants for under-the-arm can be helpful if used at night before bedtime but has to be in a higher concentration of approximately 20% of the form of aluminum chloride.  A prescription topical medication called "Dry sol" is of some value that is 25% of aluminum chloride.  This medication also works best if applied to the feet before going to bed. This should be done three to four nights in a row. Although this is not a cure for the problem, it does provide temporary relief and is useful as part of the treatment plan for athlete's foot and plantar warts in patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis.


Stinky Feet Syndrome

Athletes such as soccer players who coming contact with the wet grass continuously plus hyperhidrosis equals a condition of having terrible smelling shoes and feet.  The cause of this condition has bacteria that is growing off the sweat and moisture.


Treatment

Treatment for this condition that is effective and eliminating all odor is using a UV sterilization light bulb in the shoe once a week for approximately 15 minutes.  There are professional units that can be purchased at work very well or simply if you're handy with your hands you can purchase a 13 W UV sterilization light bulb and put it on a light cord and so the timer for 15 minutes in each shoe.  This will kill all the bacteria and fungus.  However, UV sterilization light bulbs must be used carefully and with caution because they can burn the retina if someone looks at the UV sterilization balm for any period of time.  The professional units have a sensor inside that only can turn on when a shoot is placed on the unit but still precaution is necessary that children should never be around UV sterilization bulbs.

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