The sympathetic nervous system controls the sweat glands to regulate body temperature. When the body heats up, the sympathetic nerves prompt the eccrine glands to produce a cooling, watery sweat. Emotions like fear and anxiety can also activate the eccrine glands without an increase in body temperature, leading to a "cold sweat". Although eccrine glands occur all over the body, they densely populate the armpits, forehead, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Eliminate Triggers
Caffeine powerfully activates the sympathetic nervous system and can trigger sweating. If you have excessively sweaty feet, you can try eliminating sources of caffeine such as coffee, tea, some sodas and chocolate. Learning relaxation techniques like yoga can help relieve excessive sweating triggered by emotional stress.
Home Remedies
Feet can feel especially sweaty not only because of their dense population of eccrine glands, but because they are often trapped in shoes and socks that prevent evaporation of sweat. Shoes and socks made of natural fibers or sweat-wicking materials can keep sweaty feet much more comfortable. For some people, applying antiperspirant to the soles of the feet each night can ease the problem. Unlike deodorants, which merely mask odor, antiperspirants actually inhibit the sweat glands to decrease sweat production.
Prescriptions
Prescription strength antiperspirants are available if the regular strength products do not help. Because the high concentration of aluminum salts in these products can irritate the skin, they should be applied at night and washed off in the morning.
Iontophoresis
The iontophoresis procedure temporarily blocks sweat glands. The patient submerges their feet into a basin of water charged with low-level electricity. During sessions of 15 to 30 minutes duration, an electrical charge drives ions into the pores of the skin to inhibit the output of sweat from glands. When first starting iontophoresis therapy, the patient needs daily sessions but after a few weeks, less frequent sessions can maintain the effects.
Botox
According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, in 2004 botox or botulinum toxin, best known as a wrinkle smoother, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat excessive sweating. Botulinum toxin inhibits a chemical that controls the interaction between nerves and the sweat glands to provide months' worth of relief from sweating.
A doctor uses a very fine needle to inject the Botox into the soles of the feet, just under the skin. Usually multiple injections are needed to cover the area. Injections can be painful, so doctors often use a pain killing cream or nerve block to reduce any discomfort. The toxin works immediately. The effects wear off gradually over a period of months, but the injections can be repeated as needed.
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