Like most people, you might be familiar with the feeling of uncomfortably sweaty feet in bed. If you’re looking for ways to get rid of this feeling, a good start is to learn what causes it and if it’s possible to avoid it.
The main reason why your feet sweat in bed is high internal or external temperature, which causes your body to activate the sweat glands in your feet. However, there are additional reasons that can cause excessive sweating, like stress, medical conditions, or medications.
In the rest of this article, I’ll explain more about sweating as a process and the different reasons why your feet sweat in bed. You can also check out some ways to avoid sweat build-up and unpleasantness at night.
Why Do Feet Sweat in Bed and Otherwise?
It’s normal for feet to sweat, just like every other part of your body. Your feet sweat as a way for your body to keep its temperature in check. When the weather outside is too hot, or your blanket is too warm, your body inevitably gets hot, so it seeks to lower its temperature by sweating. The same happens if your inner temperature is too high, which explains why you sweat when you have a fever.
High temperatures tell your brain to activate the sweat glands, which bring your body’s water to the surface of your skin to evaporate. This process lowers your body’s temperature. Interestingly, your feet have more sweat glands than any other part of your body, which might explain why they feel incredibly sweaty on a hot night.
For the most part, high temperature is the main reason why your feet are sweaty in bed. It’s normal for your body to regulate its temperature and your feet are well-suited for this purpose. There is no reason to worry; if anything, this means that your body is functioning correctly.
Other Reasons Why You Have Sweaty Feet in Bed
So, sweaty feet are a natural occurrence and nothing about which you should be worried. However, excessively sweaty feet could be a symptom of more complex issues that might need immediate solving.
In most of these situations, excessive sweating is only one of many symptoms. If you suspect that yours is one of these cases, schedule a visit with a specialist to learn more.
Stress or Anxiety
Your feet might sweat in bed because of high stress or anxiety levels. Any powerful emotions can cause you to sweat. Stress and anxiety can increase your heart rate, which in turn will raise your body temperature. As I’ve explained above, a higher-than-average temperature will tell your body to activate sweat glands and produce sweat.
Therefore, if your feet feel especially sweaty in bed, you need to evaluate the levels of stress and anxiety you’re experiencing at the moment. If these levels are higher than usual, there’s a pretty good chance that they are causing this excessive perspiration.
Medical Conditions
There’s a chance that sweaty feet in bed are a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Some particular conditions can cause excessive and constant sweating during the night:
- Depression
- Obesity
- Nerve damage
- Sleep disorders
- Hyperthyroidism
- Heart infection
- Diabetes
- Types of cancer
While these are all quite severe conditions, don’t be quick to panic and diagnose yourself just because of sweaty feet. All the conditions mentioned above have several other symptoms specific to each. Consult your doctor for more information and an accurate diagnosis.
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excessive perspiration without any particular reason. People with hyperhidrosis have very active sweat glands, which make them sweat much more often and excessively compared to the rest of the population. This condition is relatively rare (only about 5% of the general population is affected) and doesn’t have a clear cause.
Hyperhidrosis can affect only a specific part of your body, so it might be an explanation for unusually sweaty feet. It comes and goes, and its severity varies depending on emotions, food, and temperature. If you feel that your feet sweat more and more often than usual, and you can’t connect this to any underlying condition or outside factor, hyperhidrosis is a possible answer. To make sure, always ask your doctor.
Medication
Sweaty feet in bed might be a side effect of medication. Certain types of medication can cause excessive sweating, especially at night. Most of the medications that list night sweats in particular as a side effect are antidepressants or hormone therapy drugs.
These specific medications cause excessive sweating because they contain components that target the parts of your brain that control sweat glands or body heat. If you’re experiencing sweaty feet, especially at night, and you’re on some type of medication, make sure to check if the side effects include sweating more than usual.
How to Avoid Having Sweaty Feet in Bed
Sweaty feet in bed can be pretty uncomfortable and unpleasant, so it’s useful to know some tricks to help alleviate this sensation. There are different measures you can take with varying degrees of success, depending on the cause of the problem.
First and foremost, you must maintain good foot hygiene. Wash your feet every day with soap, and make sure you dry them completely to avoid any bacterial growth. Use antibacterial soap if you can for extra protection. Additionally, you can use antifungal powder at night to prevent sweaty feet.
Your sleeping environment is essential when it comes to dealing with sweaty feet in bed. Try to avoid synthetic materials for your blankets, as well as your footwear. If you like to wear socks to bed, make sure they’re made of breathable, moisture-wicking fabric. Furthermore, try to keep your bedroom cool and wear light clothes in bed to ensure your body doesn’t need to cool down.
If stress makes your feet sweat in bed, it might be helpful to learn some tricks to lower your stress levels before bedtime. For instance, try to limit your screen time, brew some tea, or soften the lighting in your room. This way, you make sure to lower stress levels and, as a result, are less likely to sweat during the night.
Final Words
The main reason why your feet sweat in bed is that your body is feeling the need to cool down because of high temperatures. To avoid sweat build-up, maintain good foot hygiene and a comfortable sleeping environment. If you suspect your feet sweating in bed is a symptom of a more serious problem, consult your doctor.
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