The Hows and Whys of Smelly Feet

image: Istock

Article by BR Michelle

There’s nothing worse than taking off your shoes, whether it’s sandals, boots, or sneakers, only to find that your feet just plain stink. Whether you’ve just got done doing a sweaty workout or it just seems like it’s just plain natural, having smelly feet is one beauty mishap that can be a stinky situation. Wondering how and why this phenomenon exists? In honor of Feet Week here on Beauty Review, we’re rounding up everything you need to know about the how’s and why’s of smelly feet. And if you’re looking for some remedies to cure your condition, stay tuned until the end for some helpful tips!

Why Do Feet Smell?

Each foot has over 250,000 sweat glands, which means that there’s a lot of room for sweat to groove into this specific body part. What causes bad foot odor isn’t the sweat itself, though; it’s the bacteria on the skin that seeps into the sweat and causes it to oftentimes clear out a room (sound familiar?) What’s more is that bacteria is attracted by sweat, which makes it easier for it to actually become trapped into the sweat and causing a bad smell.

Doesn’t Every Body Part Have Sweat Glands?

Yes! Our hands, armpits, and everywhere in between have sweat glands, but what makes our feet more susceptible to bad odor is what we put over it: socks and shoes. Because socks and shoes prohibit the sweat produced on the feet from getting out into the air, it becomes trapped and eventually forms harsh odors. If you think about it, our hands have almost the same amount of sweat glands as our feet; however, since they’re out in the open, the bacteria and sweat have somewhere to escape to.

How is it that Feet Smell?

Because everyone has sweat glands in their feet, everyone sweats. However, some people are more likely to have sweaty feet than others. Due to changes in the hormones, pregnant women as well as children in their teens are more susceptible to sweaty feet. And if you’re constantly on your feet, it doesn’t hurt to give them a little tender love and care with a foot scrub or foot soak once in a while to keep them de-stressed and ache-free (plus, we can never say no to some pamper time!)

Foot Smelling Conditions

Hyperhidrosis, a medical condition that can often be embarrassing and even stressful, causes a person to perspire more than normal because the body is trying to keep temperature levels controlled. The causes of this condition could be that it’s correlated with another medical condition or that it’s a side effect of a medicine you’re taking. Either way, it’s best to visit a doctor if you notice excessive sweating on your feet (or any other body part, for that matter).

Another medical condition that can cause ugly foot stenches is athlete’s foot. Caused by a fungal infection that could come from sharing towels, showers, clothes, or even a pool with other people, athlete’s foot causes a red uncomfortable rash to form in the areas between the toes. While the condition is easily treatable and extremely common, it can feel itchy and should be tended to once noticed. For treatment of mild athlete’s foot, try using an antifungal medicine in the form of a tablet, powder, spray, or cream.

How to Prevent Bad Foot Odor

There are many things you can do to keep your feet from getting that horrible stench. For one, make water your best friend. We know, we know, you’ve heard it from everyone from your mother to your doctor, but having the right amount of H2O everyday helps fight off harsh odors (not to mention the other health benefits it has as well!)

If you really want to take some serious precaution in preventing stinky feet, try using a foot powder or antiperspirant regularly. Not only will these products help keep your feet dry and free of sweat, but they’ll also break up and eventually get rid of the stench-causing bacteria.

And while it may be difficult to part ways with your favorite pair of shoes for more than 2 days, it may be in your best interest when it comes to keeping your feet smelling lemony fresh. Rather than wearing the same pair everyday (especially if it’s sneakers), switch things up to let the shoes dry out.

How to Cure Bad Foot Odor

If you’ve run out of time to prevent bad foot odor, don’t fret! Thankfully, there are things you can do to cure it. One option is to keep bad smells at bay by getting rid of the bacteria and dead skin cells that are the cause of bad odor. To do this, simply scrub your feet with soapy water and a brush, towel, or washcloth. And don’t forget the space between your toes!

Another way to cure bad foot odor is to keep your feet dry. Bacteria feeds off of moisture so make sure to dry them completely before putting on socks or shoes. Ensure your feet are dry by using a powder (such as baby powder) regularly.

Finally, the best tip we would advise you to do if you’ve become a culprit of smelly feet is to resist wearing dirty socks. Wear a new pair of socks everyday and immediately throw the pair you’ve already worn in the wash.

Having smelly feet can be an embarrassing condition for many. Thankfully, with the right information and the right treatment, you can prevent and even cure your condition. As always, if you find that the condition is excessive, visit your general practitioner to see what’s going on down there.