Dealing with Sweat in Your Prosthesis

While the summer may be winding down, the final days of August are filled with heat and humidity. If you like to stay outside, chances are you’re sweating a lot—and if you wear a prosthesis, it can be extra uncomfortable. The gel liners that are used in many prostheses can make it feel like you’re running around in a wetsuit. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to feel relief. Floyd Brace would like to offer you these tips:

• Check that your gel liner is fitting properly. If it’s loose-fitting, it’s more likely to have sweat pool around your skin.
• Stop moving about if you feel your skin chafing. Remove your prosthesis and wipe it down with a wash cloth. Excessive sweating in a prosthesis can cause your skin to break down and produce uncomfortable rashes.
• If you have a below-the-knee amputation, wear a sweat band just above the gel liner or suspension sleeve. This will help catch some of the sweat. Athletic socks that are meant to wick off sweat also work well for this.
• Before you go to bed at night, apply deodorant to your residual limb. Don’t do this during the day before you put on your prosthesis, as some of the chemicals in deodorant may harm your gel liner.
• If you are a new amputee, try walking it out. Your residual limb will sweat more than the rest of your body during the first few months of use, but as you get used to it, you may begin to sweat less.
• Studies have shown that Botox can significantly help amputees. Several clinics apply it to residual limbs that are suffering from hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. Ask your doctor about pursuing this route if the sweating around your residual limb does not decrease over time.

Floyd Brace strives to help you recapture your active lifestyle. Don’t let excessive sweating slow you down. Let us help you identify what solution works best for you and call us today to set up an appointment.