Foot Odor
Foot Odor
Right now, as you read this, millions of microscopic creatures are living on your feet. It might give you the heebie-jeebies to think about it, but these little guys, called bacteria, are perfectly normal inhabitants for feet to have. In fact, they know something that never occurred to you. Your feet are a great feasting ground. But if you overfeed them, they can really start to stink up the place.
“With sweating and high temperatures, your skin will flake. Bacteria will feed on these flakes,” says Walter J. Pedowitz, M.D., associate clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University in New York City. That would be fine if they cleaned up after themselves. But instead, the feasting bacteria produce organic substances called fatty acids, and those are the leftovers that start to reek on your feet.
In other words, if you stick your foot into a leather shoe and go cut the grass during a warm day, you’re creating a land of plenty for these microscopic creatures. It’s kind of like feeding a bunch of cowboys an endless supply of beans while they lounge around in a room with little air circulation.
Thankfully, the aging process gives you some natural protection against foot odor. You have 3,000 sweat glands per square inch of skin on your feet. Over the years, these sweat glands release less and less sweat. Less sweat means less food for bacteria. So teenagers and young adults usually have more problems with foot odor than people who are 60-plus.
This doesn’t mean, however, that you are totally immune. If you don’t practice good hygiene, even an older foot can start to smell.
Foot odor may also signal an infection. People with diabetes often have dry, cracked skin on their feet. These cracks provide footholds for yeast, bacteria, and fungi to set up camp. Left uncontrolled, these cases of athlete’s foot and other skin infections can smell. At that point, you may need to see your doctor, who can prescribe an antifungal ointment.
But for everyday smell protection, there are ways to keep those little inhabitants in check and keep your feet smelling fresh.
Try This First
Throw out those stinking shoes. No matter what you do to make your feet smell better, if you shove them back inside a pair of smelly shoes, they’ll stink all over again. If you have smelly shoes, get rid of them and treat yourself to a new pair, says Dr. Pedowitz.
Other Wise Ways
Change shoes and socks often. Aim to change your shoes and socks at least once a day. But gauge your shoe and sock changes by how much your feet sweat. As soon as you notice that they are wet, it’s time for a change. Wash each pair of socks after wearing them. Try to rotate your shoes so they have a day to dry out between wears, advises Dr. Pedowitz.
Buy absorbent socks. Thick, soft socks will soak up the sweat, keeping it away from your skin. Stay away from nylon, which doesn’t breathe or absorb moisture but does pick up odor fast, says Dr. Pedowitz.
Add inserts. Sold over the counter, shoe inserts such as Odor-Eaters are widely available in stores and can help keep your feet odor-free, notes Dr. Pedowitz.
Apply some powder. Dust your feet with baby or foot powder. The powder will absorb some of the sweat, adds Dr. Pedowitz.
| Managing Your Meds If your doctor prescribes oral antibiotics or antifungal medication, make sure to speak up about other medications you may be taking. This is a good general precaution and should be a routine part of the prescription process, says Walter J. Pedowitz, M.D., associate clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at Columbia University in New York City. Your doctor can then prescribe the right type of medication for you. Before heading to the doctor’s office, however, check your medicine chest. Some seemingly innocuous medications may contribute to foot odor simply because they can increase sweat production. Here are some possible culprits. • Aspirin, which increases sweat production • Thermoregulation medication, such as dantrolene (Dantrium), that can increase or decrease peripheral circulation, which could mean sweaty feet • If you are taking hyperthyroid medication such as methimazole (Tapa zole) or hyperadrenal medications like dexamethasone (Decadron), be aware that these conditions often cause additional sweating in the feet. |
Buy breathable shoes. Although you always believed a good leather shoe was the best thing you could put on your foot, it’s not. Once odor gets into leather shoes, it won’t get out. They’re ruined. Plus, leather makes your feet sweat. So opt for canvas or nylon shoes that have as little leather as possible, says Alan J. Liftin, M.D., dermatologist in private practice in Livingston, New Jersey.
Wash what you can. In addition to washing your socks, also remember to take out any inserts or pads in your shoes and wash those regularly too, Dr. Liftin says.
Take a tea bath. If your problem is excess sweating, soak your feet in a bucket of strongly brewed black tea, says Dr. Pedowitz. The tannic acid in the tea will kill the bacteria and close down your pores, keeping your feet dry longer. Use two tea bags per pint of water and boil for 15 minutes. Then remove the bags and add two quarts of water to the tea. Soak your feet for 30 minutes daily for about a week.
