Earlier this month, I attended the Foot Health Conference, where I met Richard Oliver from Limbo Ltd. He introduced me to the products that SweatHelp offers to people suffering from this embarrassing condition and to the website www.hyperhidrosisuk.org, which as a resource provides advice, tips, and information.

I want to use this opportunity to talk about excessive sweating or Hyperhidrosis as the condition is often overlooked and not talked about, as it can be embarrassing for the sufferer. I hope this helps give you some insight into Hyperhidrosis, tips on how to manage the condition, what treatments are available and where to go for help and further information.

Let us kick off with how it can feel to have Hyperhidrosis…
Do your feet feel soggy and sloppy all the time? Does sweat ruin your shoes? Are you afraid to wear sandals or flip-flops for fear that you’ll slip right out of them? Do you leave damp footprints when you walk barefoot? Are your feet always cold because they are always wet?
These are just some of the experiences of people with extremely sweaty feet, or plantar hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis, also called excessive sweating, is a medical condition that affects different body areas, including the feet. Fortunately, there are treatments available and I will go through them here for you:

1. Simple measures such as
   a. wearing bamboo socks and insoles, which help wick moisture away from the skin.
   b. wearing copper or silver-impregnated insoles helps to fight fungal infections, which are common with excessive foot sweating.
   c. wearing leather shoes or shoes made from natural fibres.
   d. Seeing a podiatrist regularly, who will help with some of the conditions associated with excessive sweating, such as ingrowing toenails and fungal infections.
2. Strong antiperspirants can be prescribed by the GP or available from the Chemist or online at sweathelp.co.uk. The antiperspirant is applied to the underside of the feet each night following a shower/bath and careful drying. When there is an improvement, this can be applied every few days.
3. Tap-water Iontophorosis is a safe and effective method to reduce sweating. A low-voltage electric current is passed through water to the skin of the feet. It is painless and takes 30 minutes each session. Around seven sessions over a 4-week period are required to get the sweating under control, and then top-up treatments every few weeks. It may be possible for you to be referred to a dermatology unit for an initial course but many patients purchase their own device for use at home.
4. Botox may be available from some practitioners but care must be taken that the person administering the injections has been trained to administer botox specifically for sweating. You should know, however, that plantar injections of Botox (injections on the foot) can be painful (although there are pain-relieving techniques that experienced medical providers use) and the results on the feet “wear off” in 3 to 4 months, meaning you’ll need to return for re-treatment at that point.
5. ETS Surgery (Lumbar sympathectomy) is a surgical procedure that destroys part of the sympathetic nerve trunk in the thoracic region. It is major surgery and is only considered as a last resort, as the side effects can be severe and it is not reversible. A decision for this option must not be taken lightly and is not to be recommended.
   Useful websites to help with hyperhidrosis are listed below:
   • www.sweathelp.co.uk to browse and buy specialist products such as Forte Max Antiperspirant Spray, Bamboo and Alum Insoles,
   • www.hyperhidrosisuk.org for tips and useful information
   • www.reidpodiatry.com or by phone on 01889 801772 – Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating can cause other foot problems such as fungal skin infections, fungal nail infections, ingrowing toenails, blistering, and more. An HCPC registered podiatrist can help with these problems, and appointments can be made online at www.reidpodiatry.com

Thank you for reading this blog, and I do hope it has been helpful.