Are antiperspirants for feet a thing? Do they work? The answer is: YES!
Your feet also have sweat glands but they are a little different from those in your armpits. And many people have sweaty feet that end up smelly. It’s the same concept as your underarms and odor. Sweat + Bacteria & Fungi (more common on feet) = Odor.
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Video: Sweat Feet – Dr. Priya Samant (Podiatrist)
To read more about excessive body odor, check this article out:
How Antiperspirants For Feet Work
Antiperspirants will work on your feet in the same way that they work on your armpits. They will plug your sweat ducts to control how much sweat you secrete through your skin.
They are usually formulated as a foot lotion or cream to make it easy to apply and absorb into the skin.
The main ingredient is usually aluminum, but the concentrations will vary. Also, depending on the strength of the formula and the brand, they may contain other ingredients that hydrate, moisturize, and nourish the skin.
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How To Use/Apply Antiperspirants On Feet
Different brands of antiperspirants for feet will come with their own instructions, which may vary. In general, however, antiperspirants are applied in the evening on feet that are clean and dry.
Some may need to be applied daily while others may only need to be applied 1-2 times per week. This will also depend on how much sweat protection you need.
- So, just after your shower in the evening, make sure your feet are dry,
- And then apply the lotion all over your feet where you sweat.
- Let it absorb into your skin and go to bed.
You may need to do this daily until your pores are sufficiently plugged so that you visibly notice less sweat on your skin. After that, depending on the product, you may only need to apply it every few days.
Related Article – Best Antiperspirants For Your Face – Read Before Trying
Best Antiperspirants For Feet
1- Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion
This is my favorite of the bunch we tested out. The Carpe Foot Lotion is quick-drying and non-greasy. It wears well in socks and sneakers all day.
To see my full review of the Carpe Hand and Foot Lotions, check this article out:
The main active ingredient is Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate 15%, but it also contains skin conditioning and moisturizing ingredients like Dimethicone and Glycerin, among others.
It itched a little when I first started using it (maybe because my feet were not completely dry). But after a few applications, the itching stopped and it got the hang of it.
A small amount (dime-sized) goes a long way and it even comes with an applicator if you do not want to get it on your hands!
You can Click here to get the Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion on Amazon.
2- Sweatblock Quick-Dry Antiperspirant Lotion For Feet
This lotion was designed for people with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
It has a higher concentration of Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate (17.5%) which makes it stronger than the Carpe lotion. It also contains other ingredients like Dimethicone and aloe extract to condition and soothe the skin.
But, it contains talc and colloidal silver as well (which is somewhat controversial due to safety concerns among many people).
However, these ingredients are present in small amounts and are safe to use on your skin daily without causing any long-term illnesses. Some of the ingredients (like aluminum) may cause irritation or allergic reactions if you are sensitive to them, but this has rarely been an issue.
When I tried it out, it itched for a few days but eventually, that went away. It made my already dry skin much drier, so that’s why I did not immediately like this one.
But it is super effective at stopping excessive sweating.
You can Click here to get the Sweatblock Quick-Dry Antiperspirant Lotion For Feet on Amazon.
3- Neat Feat 3B Foot Saver Roll-On Antiperspirant For Feet
This one comes with a roller ball in a formula that is a little thinner than the other creams and lotions. It is not a quick drying so it takes about 2-3 minutes to absorb into the skin. But, once it does, man, you’re good to go all day!
The main active ingredient is Aluminum Chlorohydrate 20.25%, which makes it the product with the highest concentration of Aluminum in the set we decided to try out. It works amazing for excessively sweaty feet (the guys love this one!).
The only downside for me is that it only contains Dimethicone and no other skincare ingredients so it can make dry skin even drier. It may also cause some irritation, but not everyone will have this problem.
Click here to see the price for the Neat Feat 3B Foot Saver Roll-On Antiperspirant For Feet on Amazon.
Side Effects Of Using Antiperspirants For Feet
Like all skin products, the major side effects associated with using antiperspirants for feet are irritation and allergic reactions.
Many people are sensitive to aluminum. It either causes irritation or they can be allergic to it. If this is the case, then antiperspirants will not be a good option for you.
However, in some cases, irritation is temporary until your skin gets used to the product. Irritation can also occur if the product is used incorrectly.
So, unless you are allergic to aluminum, you can test-patch your skin for a few days to make sure that any reaction is temporary. Then you can proceed to use the product as directed.
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Sources
Sweaty Feet | Foot Health | Patients | APMA
Sweaty Feet – International Hyperhidrosis Society | Official Site