Smelly feet are annoying and downright embarrassing!
It makes you self-conscious and anxious about having to take off your shoes in front of other people, sometimes even your loved ones.
Continue reading if you want to find out more about what causes stinky feet and what you can do to treat and prevent it for good.
Malodorous feet are most often caused by excessive sweating, which can be due to standing on your feet for an extensive period of time, stress, and sometimes a common disorder called hyperhidrosis.
When you sweat, the bacteria on your feet break down the sweat and in doing so, release an unpleasant odor. If you’re wearing closed toe shoes and your feet are sweating all day, the shoes will become damp; this dark, moist environment creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to thrive.
So, then how can we treat and prevent smelly feet? The answer is in controlling moisture and bacteria overgrowth.
Follow these steps to do just that!
- Make sure you are washing your feet daily (sometimes even twice a day if need be) with an antibacterial soap. Maintain good foot hygiene by drying well between the toes after washing and keeping the toenails relatively short and free of debris. Once in a while, exfoliating the dead skin off your feet will also help reduce bacterial load.
- Allow your shoes to fully dry between wears. It is sometimes necessary to alternate between two shoes to allow sufficient dry time.
- Wear a clean and dry pair of socks each day. Consider even carrying an extra pair of socks with you if you know your feet will sweat more that day. Simply wearing socks with your closed-toe shoes can also reduce sweating. Choose materials such as cotton or wool or specifically socks with a moisture-wicking property.
- Use deodorants or antiperspirants on the foot. At Feet First Clinic, Gehwol products are available for purchase, such as the Foot and Deodorant Spray. This along with several others help to control moisture and odors on the foot and in the shoe.
- Insoles with a deodorizing, antifungal, antibacterial, and absorbent effect are also available at Feet First Clinic and may be beneficial to help control growth of unwanted micro-organisms as well as control odor.
Sometimes, malodorous feet can also be caused by a fungal infection in the foot. If the odor is accompanied with pain, itchiness, bleeding, or pus, see a Registered Chiropodist at Feet First Clinic for the necessary treatment.
You may require a prescription for an oral or topical antifungal or antibiotic.
Stay informed and gain your confidence back by saying good-bye to smelly feet today!
