Itchy, Stinky Feet in Kids

Hyperhydrosis, or excessive sweating is caused by over active sweat glands on the bottom of the foot and is especially common in adolescent children who are going through hormonal changes or physical stress. It can also occur frequently with children who are involved in a lot of sports and are stuck in gym shoes and socks the majority of the day.

Excessive sweating of the feet can lead to blister formation, athletes foot, skin breakdown, and painful calluses. With lingering moisture, inevitably, foot odor becomes a real problem for the child.

Treatment of Hyperhydrosis:
Treatment can include powders, creams and antiperspirants. Using an over the counter antiperspirant on your feet daily can help reduce moisture and odor. There are also prescription topical medications to prevent the sweating at a cellular level.

It is very important to remind your child to change socks frequently, and air out shoes and liners of the shoes each night. Teach your children about the importance of wearing socks in all of their shoes and how they can prevent the spread of infection and odor. The ideal sock for your child to be wearing is a synthetic cotton/poly blend.

Tinea Pedis, or Athletes Foot, commonly affects children after puberty. It is easily contracted due to the prolonged use of closed toe shoes, resulting in hot, sweaty feet which promotes the growth of the fungus. Athletes foot appears as itchy, scaly areas on the soles and sometimes will form painful cracks in between the toes.

Treatment of Athletes Foot includes topical or anti fungal medication or in severe cases a combination of both. Recurrence is common due to fungus being so common in the environment so make sure your child uses the medication as directed and does not stop as soon as they symptoms are gone.