Smelly Feet Causes and Treatment

What are the causes of smelly feet?

Medically known as bromodosis, smelly feet are a common problem and it can be very unpleasant and embarrassing. Smelly feet are primarily caused from of a lack of ventilation for your feet. Each foot has more than 250,000 sweat glands, producing more than a pint of sweat in one day. Sweat itself is odorless, but when it comes into contact with bacteria it releases a bad smell.

Athlete’s Foot, which is a skin infection caused by a fungus, can also cause smelly feet. Other factors that can cause smelly feet include certain medications and disease, poor hygiene, harsh environments, wearing poor-quality shoes and over-wearing shoes.

How can I avoid smelly feet?

In order to avoid smelly feet, you need to deal with the various factors that can cause it, such as sweat, dead skin and bacteria. Here you can read some advice on how to avoid smelly feet

• Personal hygiene
  The best way to prevent smelly feet is to maintain good personal hygiene and not wearing the same shoes for two consequent days. Let them air dry, preferably in the sun, before re-using them. It is also very important to wash your feet with soap and water daily.
• Keep your feet dry
  Dry your feet carefully after each shower. Moisture, whether it is water or sweat, is what creates a ground for bacteria to grow. Take the time to dry your feet thoroughly and don’t forget the space between your toes.
• Wear sandals or open-toed shoes (especially in the summer)
  Wearing open shoes lets the air flow around your feet, keeping them cool and keeping you from sweating heavily.
• Unless you’re wearing open shoes, you should always wear socks.
  The socks you wear are also important – wear socks made of cotton or wool to ensure ventilation and sweat absorption. Socks absorb your sweat, although putting on a dirty pair of socks for a second day in a row is essentially going to reheat that sweat, leading to a foul smell. Thus it is important to change your socks every day, especially if your feet tend to get sweaty.
• Use the appropriate products to reduce sweating
  There are many anti-perspirant or deodorant products, such as sprays, creams or foot powders that reduce foot sweating and minimize bacterial spread.