# Sweaty feet > Sweaty feet (hyperhidrosis) means sweating when you don't need to cool down. Excessive sweating affects roughly 3 to 5.5 in 100 people, it isn't clear how common sweaty feet alone are, and it usually has no known cause. Self-care and an antiperspirant come first. Guide in [Skin and nails](https://footanklelowerlimb.com.au/learn/topics/skin-and-nails), from Foot Ankle Lower Limb: https://footanklelowerlimb.com.au/learn/hyperhidrosis Reviewed by Andrew Schox, BSc(Hons) PGradDipPod MPod (Podiatrist) on 1 November 2026. Next review by 1 November 2027. - **Excessive sweating affects roughly 3 to 5.5 in 100 people,** and often affects the soles, though it isn't clear yet how common sweaty feet are on their own. Most of the time no cause is known. - **Self-care and an antiperspirant come first:** rotating shoes, moisture-absorbing socks and an aluminium chloride antiperspirant. - **A doctor can add more options** if simple care isn't enough. - **Ongoing care is usual,** rather than a one-off fix. ## What is hyperhidrosis, and how common is it? Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is sweating that goes beyond what your body needs to cool down [1]. It happens at rest, whatever the temperature, and is unpredictable and uncontrollable [2][1]. It most often affects the armpits, palms, soles and face, though it can affect any part of the body [1]. When it affects the soles, it's called plantar hyperhidrosis (sweating of the soles). Around 3 in every 100 Australians experience excessive sweating, meaning heavy perspiration with no obvious cause, even when they are neither warm nor exerting themselves; estimates differ across countries and definitions, and none is specific to the feet [3]. The sweating can also take a toll on how you feel day to day [2]. It can help to note where you sweat, how often, and whether it happens at rest or at night. ## What causes sweaty feet, and who gets it? Most excessive sweating has no known cause [3]. Doctors call this primary (or idiopathic) hyperhidrosis, and it often affects the feet, on both sides [3][4]. It often runs in families, and it commonly starts in childhood or the teens through to the mid-twenties [3][5][6]. Emotional stress is a common trigger, because the sweat glands on the soles respond mostly to emotion [7]. Hot weather can make it worse, and so can strain or tiredness of the foot [7]. Negative emotions and sweating may also feed each other, with negative feelings both following from sweating and making it worse [8]. Secondary hyperhidrosis is sweating caused by another condition or a medicine [4]. Hormone conditions such as diabetes and an overactive thyroid may be among the more common conditions behind it [9]. It can help to note when your sweating began and what seems to bring it on, such as emotion, heat or footwear. ## What does it feel like, and how is it diagnosed? Plantar hyperhidrosis (sweaty feet) affects both feet equally [10]. The sweating can range from mild to severe and constant, but it stops when you're asleep [10]. Primary hyperhidrosis is usually diagnosed from your history and an examination, once symptoms have lasted at least 6 months [11]. They'll ask where you sweat, what sets it off, when it began and how often it happens [5]. Some features suggest another cause, sometimes a serious one [1]. Features that can point to another cause include: - night sweats, a fever or feeling unwell [12][13]; - sweating on one side only, or over larger areas of your body [13][10]; - a sudden change in your sweating, or sweating that started at 25 or older [3][13]; - palpitations (a racing or pounding heartbeat) [5]. Sweaty feet shouldn't be assumed harmless without an assessment [1]. ## What helps first? Self-care comes first. A strong aluminium chloride antiperspirant is usually the first treatment [4][14]. Apply it at night to clean, dry skin and wash it off in the morning, following the directions [12]. It often irritates the skin [14]; if yours does, stop or reduce it. Rotate your shoes, choosing leather or non-occlusive pairs, and let them dry between wears [7][12]. Wear moisture-absorbing socks and change them at least twice a day [12][7]. > [!tip] Try this > Tonight, apply your antiperspirant to clean, dry feet. Tomorrow, wash it off and wear fresh moisture-absorbing socks. Iontophoresis is another option a clinic can provide for the feet [4][15]. Tell the clinic about any cuts, infection or skin conditions first [16]. Iontophoresis is not suitable for everyone, for example people with a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, an arrhythmia, uncontrolled epilepsy, recent wounds at the site, or pregnancy. These treatments may help, though it isn't clear how well they work on the feet [2]. ## What helps if that isn't enough? Your GP may refer you to a dermatologist (a skin doctor) [11]. Anxiety and depression are common in primary hyperhidrosis, and doctors should take them into account when treating it [17]. Options a doctor can discuss include iontophoresis, botulinum toxin, anticholinergic tablets, other procedures [18] and surgery, though it isn't clear yet how well most of these work [2]. These are prescription treatments and procedures, so they aren't self-care. Anticholinergic tablets and surgery carry side-effect risks. Surgery on the nerves that control sweating often causes sweating elsewhere on the body [19]. ## How long does it last, and how do I keep it under control? Sweaty feet usually need ongoing management rather than a one-off fix. Antiperspirants often need long-term use [11], so check now and then that your routine is still working. Keep up the shoe and sock habits above, such as rotating leather shoes and changing moisture-absorbing socks at least twice a day [20]. Loose clothing, and avoiding tight clothes and synthetic fabrics such as nylon, may also help [20]. Sweating can lower your quality of life and mood [14][21]. Stress and sweating can feed each other [8], and anxiety and low mood are commonly reported [17]. Notice whether stress or low mood make your sweating worse, and mention it to a health professional. You may need support for anxiety or low mood alongside sweating treatment [17][11]. It isn't clear yet whether anything stops sweaty feet coming back. ## What can make it serious? - You have lost weight without trying. - You suddenly become short of breath, have chest pain or cough up blood. ## Common questions ### Is hyperhidrosis hereditary? It often runs in families. Genetic factors can play a part in sweaty feet, along with physical and emotional stress. Having a relative with it makes it more likely, but not certain, and plenty of people with sweaty feet have no family history. Telling your GP or podiatrist about any family history can help them assess your sweating. ### Can medicines cause excessive sweating? Yes. Sweating can be a side effect of some medicines, and most second-generation antidepressants in adults are linked to a higher risk of it. Don't stop or change a prescribed medicine because of sweating. Prescription medicines can also cause secondary hyperhidrosis, which involves sweating across the whole body rather than a limited area. ### Is sweaty feet the same as hyperhidrosis? Often, yes. Sweating is considered excessive when it happens while your body doesn't need to cool down. Hyperhidrosis is the medical term for that, and the form that affects the soles is known as plantar hyperhidrosis. It can happen for no obvious reason, because of another condition, or as a side effect of a medicine. ## Further reading - [Sweaty feet on Clindice](https://clindice.com/hyperhidrosis) - [Why Do I Sweat So Much?](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17113-hyperhidrosis), Cleveland Clinic - [Hyperhidrosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007259.htm), MedlinePlus - [Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) – causes and treatments](https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/excessive-sweating-hyperhidrosis), healthdirect - [The Royal College of Podiatry](https://rcpod.org.uk/common-foot-problems/sweaty-feet), Royal College of Podiatry - [Smelly feet](https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/smelly-feet/), NHS ## Sources 1. Hyperhidrosis from diagnosis to management · Aubignat M · La Revue de Medecine Interne · 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmed.2020.11.002 2. Interventions for hyperhidrosis in secondary care: a systematic review and value-of-information analysis · Wade R, Rice S, Llewellyn A et al. · Health Technology Assessment (Winchester, England) · 2017. https://doi.org/10.3310/hta21800 3. Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) – causes and treatments · Healthdirect Australia. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptoms/excessive-sweating-hyperhidrosis 4. Hyperhidrosis: Management Options · McConaghy J, Fosselman D · American Family Physician · 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30215934/ 5. Hyperhidrosis: assessment and management in general practice · Ashton S, Winter S, Thomas C et al. · The British Journal of General Practice · 2024. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp24x737361 6. Hyperhidrosis: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Stepwise Treatment · Schreiner W, Rapprich S, Rzany B et al. · Deutsches Arzteblatt International · 2026. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.m2025.0229 7. Sweaty feet · dbth.nhs.uk. https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sweaty-feet-leaflet.pdf 8. The impact of hyperhidrosis on patients' daily life and quality of life: a qualitative investigation · Kamudoni P, Mueller B, Halford J et al. · Health and Quality of Life Outcomes · 2017. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-017-0693-x 9. Clinical differentiation of primary from secondary hyperhidrosis · Walling HW · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2010.03.013 10. Plantar hyperhidrosis · ACD. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/plantar-hyperhidrosis/ 11. FSH Derma Hyperhidrosis guidelines (Sweating) · fsfhg.health.wa.gov.au. https://fsfhg.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/HSPs/SMHS/Hospitals/FSFHG/Files/PDF/FSH-Derma-Hyperhidrosis-guidelines.pdf 12. Hyperhidrosis · Right Decisions. https://www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/dermatology-pathways/hyperhidrosis/ 13. Primary hyperhidrosis: an updated review · Maazi M, Leung AK, Lam JM · Drugs in Context · 2025. https://doi.org/10.7573/dic.2025-3-2 14. Hyperhidrosis: an update on prevalence and severity in the United States · Doolittle J, Walker P, Mills T et al. · Archives of Dermatological Research · 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-016-1697-9 15. The etiology, diagnosis, and management of hyperhidrosis: A comprehensive review: Therapeutic options · Nawrocki S, Cha J · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2018.11.066 16. Iontophoresis with Tap Water · uhd.nhs.uk. https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/uploads/about/docs/our_publications/patient_information_leaflets/dermatology/Iontophoresis-with-Tap-Water.pdf 17. Association of Primary Hyperhidrosis with Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review · Kristensen JK, Vestergaard DG, Swartling C et al. · Acta Dermato-Venereologica · 2020. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-3393 18. Progress and lack of progress in hyperhidrosis research 2015-2020. A concise systematic review · Kristensen JK, Nielsen C · International Journal of Dermatology · 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.15654 19. A systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of lumbar sympathectomy for plantar hyperhidrosis · Lima SO, Santos RS, Moura AMM et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14470 20. Sweating (excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis) · 111.wales.nhs.uk. https://111.wales.nhs.uk/Encyclopaedia/h/article/hyperhidrosis 21. Quality of life in individuals with primary hyperhidrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis · Henning MAS, Barati F, Jemec GBE · Clinical Autonomic Research · 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-023-00954-w --- This is general information, not advice about your own situation. To discuss your issues, book with one of our podiatrists. In an emergency, call 000.