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Dealing with Foot Odor

How to Stomp Out Smelly Feet

Jul 21, 2009 Suzanne Mendjiwa

Foot odor is a social embarrassment that most people have either witnessed or experienced. Here is important information on how to get rid of smelly feet.

Bromhidrosis is the medical term for foot odor (or body odor). In a 2008 survey, Certain Dri® reported that 30% of U.S. adults suffer from problematic foot sweat. What’s more, about three-quarters of this group also struggle with smelly feet. This makes it important to explore the causes of this condition, as well as some available prevention and treatment options.

What Causes Smelly Feet?

The main cause of bromhidrosis (foot odor) is the interaction between sweat and the bacteria and fungi found in shoes and on the foot surface. There are more sweat glands per inch in a pair of feet than in any other part of the human body, and they continually produce sweat –not only when it’s hot, or during physical exercise. Sweat evaporates easily from bare feet, so the bacteria/fungi can’t really thrive.

The story is different, however, when the foot is confined to a shoe. This is especially true if the shoe in question is non porous. Because human sweat contains nutrients—such as glucose, amino acids, salt, and lactic acid—bacteria and fungi can feed on it to grow. Therefore, the longer a foot is confined to a shoe, the more nutrients are available to bacteria and fungi, since the sweat being produced cannot evaporate as well as in bare areas of the body. As bacteria feed on dead skin cells and sweat contents, they produce waste material, which is responsible for foot odor.

While poor hygiene and inadequate shoe gear are important contributors to foot odor, there are other conditions that can increase the likelihood of bromhidrosis. These include: hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), excessive anxiety, certain skin conditions, some drugs, and hormonal changes.

How to Treat Foot Odor at Home

Before running to the drugstore, there are simple, yet effective steps that can help prevent foot odor:

Adopt a daily foot care routine.A daily foot bath with a mild soap and lukewarm water is a way to reduce the bacterial load on one's feet. It is important to thoroughly dry the feet between the toes, because bacteria and fungi love moisture.
Use talc powder or cornstarch. Dusting one's feet (including between the toes) with talc powder or cornstarch will help keep them dry.
Change socks often. Since socks retain moisture, changing them at least once a day will limit the amount of sweat in contact with both feet and shoes.
Rotate shoes. Bacteria are found both on feet and in shoes (especially the lining). So, wearing the same shoes every day for long periods of time simply ensures a daily food supply (from sweat components) to these bacteria. Allowing a pair of shoes to dry out for at least a day before wearing it again would help starve the bacteria in it, thereby reducing the likelihood of having smelly feet. Also, removing the innersoles while shoes “rest” would help prevent foot odor from staying in one's shoes.
Choose natural fibers. Thick, soft socks help absorb sweat, and natural fibers (e.g., cotton, wool) are better at doing this. Synthetic materials (except rayon) usually retain more heat, increase perspiration, and limit evaporation… thus creating optimal conditions for bacterial growth and foot odor. Likewise, it is better to avoid plastic shoes and opt for materials that will allow one's feet to breathe.
Wash, disinfect or get rid of smelly shoes. If washing a pair of foul smelling shoes fails to solve the odor problem, try to disinfect it before deciding to discard it. There is a home sterilization method that consists in wrapping the shoes in blotting paper and leaving them in a jar of formaldehyde for a day or two. The jar should be shut in a taped cardboard box and left in a garage or closet during that time. The shoes should then dry out for about a day before being worn again. This disinfection method is meant to get rid of the bacteria, while leaving the shoes unharmed

Prevention options available at drugstores include: foot deodorants, foot sprays, activated charcoal insoles, special cedar soles (with antibacterial properties), topical erythromycin, and formaldehyde (to disinfect shoes).

Medical Treatment of Foot Odor

If self-care techniques fail, consult a physician, especially if excessive sweating and odor become a problem in other areas of the body. In severe cases, a doctor might opt for more aggressive solutions, such as stronger medications, electrology, or even surgery (i.e., cutting the nerve controlling the sweating).

References

ePodiatry - Smelly Foot

eMedicine - Bromhidrosis

The copyright of the article Dealing with Foot Odor in General Medicine is owned by Suzanne Mendjiwa. Permission to republish Dealing with Foot Odor in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Bare Human Feet