As temperatures rise, sweating is a very common outcome in the feet, especially when you are wearing closed shoes and socks. Here is a sweaty fact for you: On average, each foot produces 500ml of sweat daily, that is equivalent to a cup of sweat per day!
Excessive sweating that is unable to evaporate and instead gets contained in the shoes, creates a nurturing platform for bacterial and fungal infections, causing odor.
The most commonly observed reasons that cause smelly feet are:
- The menacing “sweat!” Surprisingly, moisture itself is not smelly; it is the isovaleric acid produced by bacteria that causes the smell.
- Athlete’s Foot and other infections: These skin conditions result from fungi that proliferates in confined and moist feet.
- Fungal nail infections are also known to cause foot odor. In fact, one of the early signs of fungal infections is smelly feet.
Here are a few effective remedies:
- Keeping your feet clean and dry is important to avoid foot odor. Antiseptic soaps prevent bacteria.
- Wearing airy socks reduces sweat and ultimately reduces odors. Therefore avoid synthetic socks.
- Spraying your shoes and insoles with disinfectants or surgical spirit also helps in killing bacteria.
- Soaking feet in a mixture that is two-thirds water and one-third vinegar is effective in eliminating fungi. However, this remedy is strictly not advised in case of cuts or rashes on the skin.
- Using antiperspirants on your feet also reduces the amount of sweat produced by your feet.
If your smelly feet condition persists, you should consult our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Debra B. Manheim at Step By Step Family Foot Care, to identify the root cause of the issue and accordingly get the right treatment.
We are experienced in treating a vast number of foot and ankle related problems including bone and joint issues, toenail and skin infections, injuries, sprains, bunions, hammertoes, and more. Contact us or visit our Parsippany office for complete and reliable solutions.