In case your socks get soggy and smelly throughout exercises or you end up sliding round in sandals—in the event you’ve bought sweaty toes, is what I’m saying—you’re in good firm. They are typically one of many swampier components of the human physique: Every foot accommodates almost 250,000 sweat glands, most of that are positioned in your soles.

Issues like heat temps, stress, train, being pregnant, menopause, and even having a well being situation like hyperthyroidism can all issue into how moist issues get. Whereas some individuals have a dysfunction referred to as hyperhidrosis that causes them to sweat excessively, for essentially the most half, just a little additional perspiration is completely regular. In spite of everything, it’s simply your physique’s means of attempting to maintain you cool.

Pure or not, you’d be hard-pressed to seek out somebody who’s thrilled about trekking round on a sweltering summer season day in squishy footwear. And plenty of sweat can typically result in blisters (if that wetness causes friction), fungal infections, and funky odors. Listed below are some methods to maintain your toes cool and dry this summer season.

1. Put on breathable footwear.

You need to be strategic about what you set in your toes if you wish to preserve them (comparatively) dry, Divya Shokeen, MD, FAAD, a Los Angeles–based mostly dermatologist, tells SELF. She says that begins with footwear that enable for lots of airflow (assume: open-toed sandals, mesh sneakers, or slip-ons with loads of holes or areas).“Breathable footwear improve the circulation of air and cut back the probabilities of warmth and perspiration,” she notes. James McGuire, DPM, the director of the Leonard Abrams Heart for Superior Wound Therapeutic on the Temple Faculty of Podiatric Medication, tells SELF that individuals ought to search for pairs constituted of sure supplies—like tricot (a knit that may be both synthetic or natural), bamboo fibers, cork, or leather-based. The Allbirds Tree Loungers (constituted of eucalyptus tree fiber) and ECCO Flowt LX Wedge Sandal (constituted of leather-based) are two choices that SELF beforehand really useful.

Nonetheless, footwear might be made with “good” supplies and be crafted in a less-than-perforated means (say, the stitching is extra-tight), Dr. McGuire notes. Right here’s a tip from him on find out how to inform if yours are *actually* breathable: Maintain your shoe as much as your mouth and blow via it—in the event you can really feel your breath on the opposite aspect of the material, it’s well-ventilated and may assist preserve your toes feeling recent.

Alternatively, keep away from footwear made primarily with plastic, rubber, and artificial leather-based, as they’re extra more likely to entice moisture, Dr. McGuire notes.

2. Step up your sock sport.

You additionally need to take into consideration the kind of socks you’re working with. As a basic information: Search for pairs made with merino wool or artificial materials, comparable to polyester or nylon, explains Dr. McGuire. Whereas it could appear counterintuitive to put on wool socks in scorching climate, these supplies are literally higher at absorbing and evaporating moisture, he says, which can “preserve your foot dryer and cooler.” (SELF beforehand really useful the Bombas Operating Ankle Sock and Saucony Inferno Cushioned No Present Tab 3-Pack Socks as two nice choices.) Cotton, alternatively, tends to suck up sweat however does a comparatively crummy job of wicking it away, he provides. For those who saturate your socks if you’re out and about, deliver a few backup pairs to vary into.

3. Strive a foot powder.

Micro organism and fungi thrive in moist, heat environments, which makes clammy toes a great residence. Foot powders assist “take up among the moisture, they usually preserve the fungus progress down, which helps with odor,” says Dr. McGuire, so it is perhaps price it to sprinkle some into your socks—each day if want be. He recommends utilizing a cornstarch-based or antifungal one with both miconazole nitrate or tolnaftate. Consolation Zone Miconazorb Antifungal Powder (which accommodates miconazole nitrate) and Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Foot Powder (derived from cornstarch) are two good choices.

4. Embrace antiperspirants.

In accordance with Dr. McGuire (and plenty of individuals on Reddit!), antiperspirant generally is a game-changer for this challenge. “Most individuals don’t take into consideration that,” he explains, “they put it beneath their arms on a regular basis, however they don’t put it on their toes.” Dr. Shokeen recommends shopping for one which accommodates 10 to fifteen% aluminum chloride, which is a chemical that blocks sweat glands. As for the sort, you’ve bought a lot of choices: There are sprays, lotions, wipes, gels, and roll-ons, together with Sure Dri Prescription Energy Scientific Antiperspirant Roll-On Deodorant and Maxim Scientific Energy Antiperspirant (each of which have 15% aluminum chloride). Prescription ones with greater ranges of aluminum chloride (round 20%) are an choice in the event you really feel like over-the-counter ones don’t work effectively.