03 Nov Remedying Foot Odor & Smelly Feet
The foot is home to more than 250,000 sweat glands.
Combine that fact with its tight, moist confinement in socks and shoes, which trap bacteria, and what we have is a recipe for foot soup. Foot odor is caused by the combination of bacteria and sweat, so when the weather turns cooler and feet become encased in un-breathable footwear, get ready to hear “P.U.!”
And it can be embarrassing!
The most common cause of foot odor is the choice of footwear. When sweaty feet are enclosed in a non-porous environment, the growing bacteria will multiply and become encased within. At first, the smell will be limited to just your shoes. But after a while, the proximity to your feet will make the smell attach itself to them, and hang on for dear life.
There are other causes of smelly feet as well: Hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excess sweat in your feet, is one. Sometimes the medication you’re on, as well as alcohol or drug consumption, might also bring on foot odor. Hormone changes, such as puberty or menopause, can be additional causes.
In order to combat foot odor, good hygiene is essential.
Soap and water never hurt anybody, so lather up and lather up good. Keep your toenails trimmed to a reasonable length. Wash your socks regularly—no repeats! Purchase thick cotton socks that are more airy and ventilated than the nylon variety and will help draw the moisture away from your feet. Change up your shoes as often as possible to give them a chance to air out.
Some products that can also help rid your shoes of those nasty odors include disinfecting sprays, baking soda, zinc or castor oil cream, odor eaters, powders, and soaking them in strong black tea and/or vinegar.
It’s important to make sure that the condition isn’t being caused by a fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot [Read About That Condition HERE]. If you are experiencing a scaly rash between your toes with extreme itching, burning, or stinging, our foot experts at Cherrywood Foot Care can help to address that problem and alleviate those uncomfortable symptoms, too. It just might clear up your foot odor issue as well.
If the condition persists, or you’d just feel better getting a professional examination, give us a call: 516-303-9633. In fact, you might as well call us Stink-Busters!
Let Cherrywood help you tackle this problem right now—because this kind of condition really stinks!