While sweat glands act as the body’s natural thermostat, when they go into overdrive, it’s not exactly fun. I mean, nobody likes being sweaty right? Sweat also brings with it smell, and dealing with it constantly is a bit bothersome. Having sweaty hands and feet can be embarrassing, but the good news is that it can be controlled with proper treatment.
- What causes sweaty hands and feet?
- How to treat sweaty hands and feet?
- Easy tips to cope with sweaty hands and feet
- Home remedies for sweaty hands and feet
- FAQs about sweaty palms and feet
What causes sweaty hands and feet?
As established already, sweat glands act as the body’s natural thermostat, so when the body temperature rises suddenly, these glands get active. The body’s temperature may increase suddenly due to a variety of reasons, such as hot and humid weather, vigorous exercise, emotional stress and even a panic attack. Eating spicy food can also cause excessive sweating. This excessive sweating can lead to sweaty hands and feet.
Besides hot weather, stress and anxiety, excessive sweating can also be caused due to different reasons such as menopause, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia and medicinal drugs such as painkillers, antidepressants, etc. You would be surprised to know that excessive intake of caffeine and alcohol can also cause excessive sweat, also known as hyperhidrosis.
How to treat sweaty hands and feet?
There are several scented antiperspirants available easily that can mask the unpleasant odour of sweat and reduce excessive perspiration for a few days. However, for long-term relief, using stronger antiperspirants containing aluminium chloride is more beneficial.
While using antiperspirants to mask the odour of excessive sweating is a short-term relief, botox injections are suggested for long-term relief. Some dermatologists suggest botox injections as a way to treat sweaty palms and armpits, however, the results of this procedure may not last for more than four to six months. Another alternative suggested by dermatologists is iontophoresis, which is a procedure wherein a low current is used to stop the sweat glands from producing sweat. This is also a temporary solution for this problem. In case of severe hyperhidrosis, a surgical procedure known as endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy is the only permanent solution. The procedure involves cutting sympathetic nerves that control the sweat glands through a tiny incision made in the armpit.
Easy tips to cope with sweaty hands and feet
While antiperspirants and medical procedures are a solution, these are some tips that you can follow in day-to-day life to provide you with some relief.
Home remedies for sweaty hands and feet
If sweaty hands and feet are embarrassing you and you’d like to control it, then here are some home remedies you can. They help to control excessive sweating by balancing your pH levels, and they’re safe so you can definitely use them.
Naturally acidic, using lemon is an effective home remedy for sweaty hands and feet. The versatility of lemon makes it useful in more ways than one!
- One way to use lemon for combating excessive sweating is by mixing lemon juice with salt and rubbing it on your hands. When it dries up, wash it off.
- Another way in which lemons can be used is by drying the peels of lemons and oranges and turning them into powder. Dust this powder on your hands and feet to prevent excessive sweating.
- Yet another way to use lemons is to mix lemon juice with vodka and rub it on your hands. Leave the mixture on for 10-15 minutes and wash it off.
Apple cider vinegar can help maintain the pH levels of the body, particularly armpits and feet, and is thus a home remedy worth trying for sweaty hands and feet. There are a few ways you can use ACV to eliminate excessive sweating.
- You can apply ACV to the affected areas before you go to sleep.
- For sweaty feet, soak them in a solution made from half a cup of ACV and a litre of cold water. Soaking your feet in this solution for approximately 15 minutes every day will reduce perspiration.
- If you do not want to soak, then you can apply ACV on your hands and feet and allow it to dry. Wash it off with water.
- The easiest way to consume ACV is to add 1-2 tablespoons of it to a glass of water and consume it first thing in the morning.
The humble potatoes are loved by everyone in various forms! However, would you believe us if we told you that using potatoes is also a brilliant solution for sweaty hands and feet? It’s true! Being a low-acid food, they can help control excessive sweating.
- Extract juice from raw potatoes and dab onto affected areas using a cotton ball.
- Take some potato slices and rub them against your hands and feet. Let the juice stay on for some time, and then wash it off.
Since centuries, sandalwood paste has been used by people for its cooling effect. It is due to this property that it can lessen perspiration and be a solution for sweaty hands and feet.
- Mix sandalwood powder with water, lime juice or rosewater and apply it to your hands and feet and rinse after the paste has dried.
The alkaline nature of baking soda makes it an effective remedy for sweaty hands and feet.
- Mix two to three tablespoons of baking soda in warm water and dip your hands and feet in it for 20-30 minutes.
- Rub them well with the baking soda and remove from water, then pat dry.
Due to its antifungal properties, tea tree oil can help you get relief from excessive sweating.
- Apply tea tree oil to perspiring areas in small quantities regularly.
- Be careful to use just a few drops at a time, because overuse of tea tree oil can cause drying of the skin.
Moist black tea bags have antiperspirant properties, so you can use them for sweaty palms and feet. Hold them in your sweaty hands for a few minutes every day.
- If you want, you can also wipe your hands and feet with black tea bags.
- Alternatively, you can soak 3-4 tea bags in hot water and soak your palms and feet in it for 30 minutes.
- You can do this every day.
By now, you already know that coconut oil can solve every problem, whether it is related to skin or hair! For sweaty hands and feet, using coconut oil in combination with camphor works very well.
- Dissolve a piece of camphor in some coconut oil and dab this mixture on the sweat-prone areas.
- Let it rest for 40-60 minutes.
- Wash it off with clean water.
- Alternatively, you can also add camphor to your bath water to decrease sweating.
Tomatoes work wonderfully to combat excessive sweating. They can shrink your pores, which can help reduce chronic sweat. It also contains sodium, which helps keep the palms and feet dry, thus reducing sweating. Drinking tomato juice has a cooling impact on the body as well.
Rose water has a cooling impact on the skin; hence, it is a good remedy to deal with excessive sweating. Dab some rose water on your palms and feet and do this regularly to see reduced sweating.
FAQs about sweaty palms and feet
Q. What is the cause of sweaty palms and feet?
A. As mentioned in the article, the causes for sweaty hands and feet are many, including hot and humid weather, rigorous exercise, stress and anxiety, menopause, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia and certain medicinal drugs.
Q. Can stress make your feet stink?
A. There's no doubt about that! When you are under stress, you're bound to sweat more. In fact, stress-induced sweat is produced by a different sweat gland, so it has an even worse smell.
Q. Are sweaty hands and feet normal?
A. Yes, excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis, is completely normal. It is most commonly seen on the hands, feet, armpits and groin region because of the high concentration of sweat glands in those parts of the body.
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Written by Nisha Shah on 6th Jul 2021
Writer, avid reader and a lover of all things creative is the best way to describe Nisha Shah! Equipped with a degree in Journalism and a certification in Digital Marketing, she brings a distinct perspective to her writing. With experience in content covering a range of topics from health to travel and beauty to food, she manages to bring something interesting and yet easy-to-read for her readers. When she's not writing, you can find her curled up with a book and coffee, bingeing on movies and TV shows, experimenting with photography and lots more!