Ask The Experts
What advice can I give a client who always has wet feet because of sweating in steel toe boots?
Thank you for contacting us. IPFH recommends the use of padded socks made from acrylic and other synthetic fibers that help wick moisture away from the feet, purchased and properly fitted with footwear in what we call an integrated approach. It's important not to wear cotton socks, which absorb and retain moisture. One issue is that many safety toe boots do not have effective ventilation mechanisms to help evacuate moisture, but if your client can find some that have perforations or vents in the uppers, that would be beneficial. Some brands of work boots have designs that help with moisture control - just search on the term “moisture wicking work boots” to locate these. We suggest that, if possible, he or she rotate several pairs of boots and not wear the same pair two days in a row so that they can dry out between wearings. Also, removing the insoles can help the boots dry more quickly. You can also check our page prevention and treatment of foot odor to learn more about steps to take to help control moisture in the feet.
Although IPFH does not diagnose or recommend treatments for conditions, we should note that there is a condition called “hyperhidrosis” that causes excessive perspiration in the feet as well as in other areas of the body. This article from NIH provides a good explanation of the condition: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007259.htm. Although it’s not common, if your client suspects for any reason that he or she might have hyperhidrosis, there are medical remedies a doctor can prescribe and steps he or she can advise the client to take to help control the perspiration.
We hope this is helpful information that will assist your client in addressing the sweating and wet feet.