My feet sweat really, really badly.
 

I'm one of those people who have really bad smelling feet after I take off my shoes. Hell, I'll go further...they smell even when my shoes are ON.

I've narrowed the problem down to the usual cause: sweaty feet. There's a problem, however -- it's not just my feet while wearing shoes. I noticed a couple of months ago that my feet constantly sweat, even when freezing cold or while wearing flip flops. I can be sitting in class with no shoes on and my flip flops beside my feet and they are almost wet with sweat. They are constantly damp and clammy, even outside in 30 degree weather (I have to wear flip flops to class because of the issue). At any time of the day whether or not I'm wearing shoes or not, my feet are sweating like hell.

WHAT'S THE DEAL??? I thought feet were supposed to sweat while wearing shoes and socks that were too hot! Is there a medical condition that goes along with this? Is there anything I can do to make my feet stop sweating 24/7??

Maybe hyperhidrosis? I have it and use a pretty strong antiperspirant whenever I have social gatherings to go to.

If I were you, i'd stick with shoes made of natural fibers - ie leather, cotton socks in your leather shoes, ... it will breath a lot more -- flip flops are more than likely, rubber, and even though you feet are pretty much exposed... the bottoms of them are on rubber -and don't breathe at all... hence the skink.

a foot powder or foot spray might also help.

have you always had this- or is this a new condition for you?

It's not "hot" shoes and socks that make your feet sweat; it's shoes and socks that don't allow moisture from perspiration to escape. The moisture builds up and your feet feel sweatier -- and smell more.

Switch both to shoes that breathe _and_ cotton socks. Socks made with artificial fiber don't allow your feet to breathe enough (aka, don't let air circulation carry off much of the moisture. Doing this will reduce or eliminate smell, and also some of the wetness.

Mal's right about flip-flops; they're rubber or plastic, and when you put such materials up against skin perspiration collects -- because the rubber/plastic is impermeable to water and traps it against your skin. Like, sitting on a plastic or vinyl seat shirtless (or with a very thin shirt) on a hot day -- your shirt becomes soaked through where it contacts the chair.

Your problem may go beyond the average, but try these things to start, and anti-perspirant foot powder isn't a bad idea, either.

Amputation.

Or put some powder on them, stop wearing flipflops (which make people with not-smelly feet have smelly feet), and get yourself some good socks + shoes.

Yes, shoes and socks made of natural fibers will go a long way in allowing your feet to breathe properly. Double-check that your socks are 100% cotton.

Also, buy white socks and when you wash them, wash your socks separately with bleach. The bleach will kill bacteria that LOVE to lurk in socks and increase the amount of odor your feet put off. Also, deodorize your shoes on a regular basis. You can do that with simple baking soda. Furthermore, buy yourself a can of regular ol' aerosol antiperspirant. Spray your feet with this antiperspirant--doesn't take anything fancy or expensive, just make sure it's antiperspirant. Doesn't even need to be specifically for feet. Also--don't wear shoes/socks unless you have to...around the house, go barefoot. You might also want to use an antibacterial soap on your feet to decrease the presence of bacteria that will cause odor.

Sounds like hyperhydrosis...my hubby has the same problem. I'd recommend the antiperspirant others have mentioned. If the regular stuff doesn't work, you can buy extra-strong roll-on antipersprant with 12% aluminum chloride (active ingredient of antiperspirants). You put this stuff on at night to let it soak in. Shouldn't be hard to find- mine came from Eckerd's :-)

A few clarifications:

My feet sweat while wearing flipflops on the top of my foot and on the sides even though they're not in contact with anything.

My feet sweat constantly even if I'm in my PC chair reclining with my feet hanging in the air.

I've tried baking soda and all foot deodorizers and none of them even have an impact. I've also tried changing socks multiple times through the day...nothing.

I haven't tried the special socks and shoes that allow for better "skin breathing," but I don't really see how it could help considering my feet sweat constantly even with nothing on them.

This condition has gotten worse over the past 3 years (it was never this bad before that). Thanks for your tips and comments!! Keep'em coming if I gave info that could help.

*EDIT*

Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I do sweat really badly in every other area of my body, but I usually don't smell badly unless I go without taking a shower for a couple of days. In other words, I'm not one of those people who smell if I don't put on deodorant or if I don't take a shower 3 times a day.

Everyone smells if they don't put deodorant on. Everyone. If you think you don't, you are wrong.

Everyone smells...but not everyone stinks ;) For instance, both my SO and best friend smell fine when they sweat...my other best friend, though, is stinky as hell.

Hyperhydrosis.

Talk to your physician. The prescription stuff is called Drysol. It is a solution of 20% Aluminum chloride (which is different than many, if not all, anti-perspirants, which use aluminum zirconium) in anhydrous (no water) ethyl alcohol. When you put this on your hands (or feet/armpits, etc), the ethyl alcohol evaporates quickly, and the aluminum chloride does its work.

It does work, but you gotta be consistent on using it. The very strange thing is, my problem lies in the armpits, hands, and feet. But I only use the Drysol on my hands and it takes care of the rest......no explanation for that one.

Over the counter options:
Certain-Dri: 12% Aluminum chloride in water and sodium bicarbonate. The water won't evaporate as quickly as ethanol, so I would recommend getting a prescription for Drysol, which is stronger as well (12% vs. 20%)

would have to say just go see a doctor about it im willing to bet they have a few dozen things you can try.

hey dude... same problem here... I wear only birkenstocks with those expensive socks with large, thick, natural fibers that breathe very well, and my foot odor has virtually vanished. Instead of the normal birkenstocks with leather, get the soft-soled birkenstocks with a micro-fiber strap. And don't be afraid to spend good money for socks! It's worth it. Beware, however, if you don't constantly wear socks with your birkenstocks the stink will rub off on them and soak in to become perma-stink!!!

If you see a doctor, I can guarantee they will prescribe Drysol. Other treatments involve surgery or electrolysis. Your pick.

That sounds like simple yet effective advice. Get moving!

Yeah that's what I was saying. A few people I know smell like raw sewage after sweating with or without deodorant. I don't. :)

Thanks for the comments. I'm gonna do some more research on this hyperhydrosis thing.

Birkenstocks with or without socks are the way to go. I've noticed if shoes/boots are waterproof, they smell. I've had to throw away shoes because I couldn't kill the smell.