Foot odour is a common especially in hot climates, and is caused by excessive perspiration and growth of bacteria on the feet. Referring to biology, each foot has 250,000 sweat glands and produces about a cup (500 ml) of sweat daily. The perspiration itself doesn’t smell as much, however, the offensive odour comes when the sweat combines with bacteria. The bacteria that grow on the soles of feet actually produce gases similar to those released by bacteria used in producing cheese; hence the name ‘cheesy feet’.
So why That Awful Smell?
Anyone’s feet can get sweaty at any temperature or time of the year but teenagers and pregnant women are more likely to get them because hormonal changes make them sweat more.
You’re also more likely to have sweaty feet if you’re walking all day, wear shoes that are too tight, are under a lot of stress, or have a medical condition called hyperhidrosis, which makes you sweat more than usual.
You must have noticed that there are times the feet smell funkier some days than others; well the main cause of this heightened stink is sweaty feet combined with wearing the same shoes and/or socks every day.
So how Should We Go About The Treatment?
our goal is to reduce the growth of bacteria in order to treat the problem, the sweaty warm conditions around the foot should be eliminated. This is how…
- Use Mild antiseptic solutions or soaps to wash your feet everyday
- Methylated spirits applied once or twice a day (especially between the toes) can help dry the skin (don’t use if the skin between your toes is broken).
- Avoid synthetic socks and wear shoes that allow good air circulation and let your feet breathe (leather is good).
- Moisture-absorbing socks may help, or take an extra pair of socks to school or work to change over.
- Topical (applied to the skin) or oral (by mouth) antibiotics may be prescribed, in severe cases, to kill off the bacteria.
- try not to wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row so they have at least 24 hours to dry out
- change your socks (ideally wool or cotton, not nylon) at least once a day
- keep your toenails short and clean, and remove any hard skin with a foot file (it can become soggy when damp, which provides an ideal home for bacteria)
If you often get sweaty feet, you might want to try:
- using a spray deodorant or antiperspirant on your feet – a normal underarm deodorant or antiperspirant works just as well as a specialist foot product and will cost you less
- putting medicated insoles, which have a deodorizing effect, in your shoes
- using a foot powder to absorb sweat (a pharmacist can advise you about foot powders)
- trying socks for sweaty feet – some sports socks are designed to keep feet dry, and you can get special antibacterial socks
- always wearing socks with closed-toe shoes
When to see a doctor
Smelly feet are a harmless problem that generally clears up. Sometimes, however, it can be a sign of a medical condition. So visits a doctor if these simple measures to reduce your foot odour don’t help, or if you’re worried that your level of sweating is abnormally high.
Your doctor can offer you a strong prescription antiperspirant or refer you for a treatment called iontophoresis, which delivers a mild electric current through water to your feet to combat excessive sweating.
