Foot Odor Fresh Solutions to Sole Pollutions

Fresh Solutions to Sole Pollutions

Looking at the tiny toes of a newborn baby, it's hard to believe that they'll someday be smelly old feet. But by the time that same kid is running around in overused sneakers, you'll be awed by the fragrance those feet can produce.

Not a big problem, of course. But an odoriferous one--that every child seems to have sometimes.

''Frequently, children's feet will sweat more than adults' feet,'' says Rosario Labarbera, D.P.M., chief of podiatry at The General Hospital Center at Passaic and at Saint Mary's Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey, and board member of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Often that perspiration is foul-smelling--a condition doctors refer to as bromhidrosis. The odor is very similar to that of rotten cheese.

Bromhidrosis in kids is mainly caused by the presence of fetid bacteria on the foot, according to Morton Walker, D.P.M., formerly a podiatrist in private practice in Stamford, Connecticut, and author of The Complete Foot Book. If a whiff of your child's feet is enough to disturb the peaceful life of your family, listen to what doctors have to say about sweetening the air at floor level.

Let those tootsies breathe. Choose shoes made from materials that breathe, such as canvas or leather, suggests Dr. Labarbera. These are less likely to encourage moisture buildup, he says. Avoid shoes made of plastic or other synthetic, nonporous materials that trap odor inside.

Change shoes--often. '' When children wear the same shoes every day, that doesn't give them a chance to dry out,'' says Dr. Labarbera. Moisture that builds up from activity frequently accumulates in the shoes. Wet shoes can cause the skin to break down and smell bad. Sometimes the skin on a child's feet will even turn whitish from this ongoing wetness, says Dr. Labarbera.

To counter this, have your child alternate shoes daily so that each pair gets a chance to dry thoroughly. ''If your child's feet are extremely smelly, change shoes twice a day,'' suggests Marc A. Brenner, D.P.M., a podiatrist on the medical staff of the Long Island Jewish Hospital in New Hyde Park and North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, both in New York.

Switch socks. Dry socks may be the only thing protecting your child from malodorous feet. So change his socks as often as two or three times a day, if necessary, says Dr. Brenner. But don't put on just any socks. ''Pure cotton socks tend to hold wetness in,'' says Dr. Labarbera. He recommends breathable socks made of blends of cotton and synthetics, such as acrylic and orlon, that wick perspiration away from the feet.

Dry and powder after bathing. While it may not eliminate odor, basic good hygiene can help. Encourage your child to bathe his feet thoroughly every day, says Dr. Walker. Just as important, be sure he dries his feet completely after bathing, says Dr. Labarbera, and applies a foot powder to absorb any remaining moisture.

Smooth on a deodorizer. Dr. Brenner recommends an over-the-counter deodorant cream called Lavilin. ''It's made in Israel and you can buy it in health food stores. It's perfectly natural and harmless for kids,'' he says. Read the directions carefully before applying the cream.

Try dropping in inserts. Shoe inserts, especially brands that contain activated charcoal, absorb perspiration, notes Dr. Brenner, who has found them to help some youngsters with smelly ''sneaker feet.'' Although these inserts usually come in only one size, you can trim them to fit your child's shoes.

Cool those tootsies. ''Dip a cotton ball in some rubbing alcohol and dab it on the child's feet to help dry them and cool them off,'' says Dr. Labarbera. Don't use alcohol if the child has any breaks in the skin, though. That would burn, he warns. Instead, use an antiseptic like Betadine Solution, which soothes, dries and cools without burning.

Look for sources of stress. Mental tension is another common cause of foot odor, according to Dr. Walker. In fact, the odor of perspiration that results from stress is considered more offensive than the exercise-generated kind. If your child's feet have suddenly become smellier lately, talk with him about stresses at school, at home or in his friendships. If you can help him deal with tension caused by change and uncertainty, the smelly-foot condition might get better.