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Antiperspirant Dries Sweaty Feet

Q. I am having a problem with my feet. They sweat constantly and are very tender. With warm weather they get worse. Do you have any remedies for this problem?

A. You’re in luck. We just received the following message from another reader:

“I suffered for years with sweaty feet and foot odor. I tried lots of over-the-counter foot products and one recommended by a foot doctor. None worked.

“One day I was so desperate I rubbed the bottoms of my feet and in between my toes with my underarm deodorant (Women’s Mitchum Clear Gel) and it worked! Now I use it on my feet daily and have not had an odor problem since. I also rubbed it in all my smelly shoes and the odor completely disappeared. Please let your readers know about this product, as it has made a tremendous difference in my life.”

Dermatologists sometimes suggest using antiperspirant on the feet against foot odor and athlete’s foot. In a double-blind study at the U.S. Military Academy, cadets who applied antiperspirant to their soles for three nights before a long hike were less than half as likely to get blisters but more likely to experience skin irritation (Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, Oct. 1999).

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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