Imagine that moment when you take off your shoes and the smell hits you? You know how unpleasant they can be to the people around you, and even worse for yourself!
Well, you aren’t alone! Most people have experienced a smelly foot at some point in their life.
This is due to the bacteria that grows on your feet, which can also be found on other parts of your body such as the underarms and groin area. The smell can occur because of sweat or because you are wearing shoes all day long without changing into fresh socks. When you start noticing your feet smelling again, it's time for another treatment!
In this blog post, we'll go over what causes smelly feet and how they can be remedied. We'll also share some tips on how to prevent smelly feet from happening in the future so that you don't have to deal with them ever again.
What Causes Smelly Feet?
Whether it's due to sweating, wearing shoes that don't breathe, or other causes, there are many reasons why people might have smelly feet and we are here to help!
Sweaty Feet
Sweating is actually a way for your body to cool itself down. If you are on your feet all day, always wear too-tight shoes, or are under a lot of stress then there is an increased chance that you'll have sweaty feet. Sweaty Feet cause a strong, unpleasant odor. Every day your feet produce a lot of sweat to help keep you cool and moist. Feet have the most amount of sweat glands that release moisture all day long (more than any other part). When the right conditions exist, bacteria will start to take up residence and eat dead skin cells. Their colonies grow while creating organic acids as waste which in turn smells bad.
Poor Hygiene
Stinky feet are often caused by poor hygiene, and it's not hard to see why. Feet get neglected in the cleaning process for a variety of reasons - they're usually covered up with socks or shoes most days unless you work barefoot - but that can lead to smelly toes all day long! Don't take any chances with your feet and get them scrubbed clean every day. Change socks as often you change clothes, or even more frequently if necessary to prevent the spread of bacteria. Keep those toes dry between showers and wear sandals in public places like gym showers and public pools!
Stress And Anxiety
Stress is a serious matter. It has been shown that stress and anxiety cause a lot of physical problems, including sweating and headaches. This sweating can extend to your feet which in turn contributes to foot odor. Stress-induced sweat is made up of different ingredients than regular heat-induced sweat because it’s produced in a different type of gland and typically leads to worse smells.
Fungal Infection
Athlete's foot is an aggravating and highly contagious fungal infection of the foot among gym-goers. The most common cause of athlete's foot is a fungus that thrives in warm, moist areas such as public showers and gym locker rooms.
Athlete’s feet can cause stinky feet. An athlete’s foot is a fungal infection of the skin, usually on the bottom of the foot or inside the shoe. The fungi that cause an athlete's foot feed off perspiration and oils in your skin to survive and grow. This makes it hard for people with sweaty feet to get rid of the fungus as it will just keep coming back again and again if left untreated.
Excessive sweating
Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes one to sweat excessively and uncontrollably. The average person sweats about 3-5 ounces per hour, but for those with hyperhidrosis, this can be as high as 2 liters or more of sweat every hour. People with hyperhidrosis sweat excessively almost all the time. Excessive sweating can lead to embarrassing situations like armpit stains on clothing or smelliness from the wetness in shoes.
How To Get Rid Of Smelly Feet?
You're stuck between a rock and hard place because it can be really difficult to keep your feet dry when they are constantly sweating. Luckily for you, there are plenty of ways to prevent them from smelling bad and we've got some tips that will help!
Keep Your Feet Clean
It sounds simple and obvious but washing your feet every day can make a big difference when trying to control foot odor. You should wash them at least once a day using soap and water. First, you should wash both of your feet for at least 10 seconds each. Then using a pumice stone or foot scrubber, gently scrape off any dead skin on top of your feet. If your shoes are washable, try washing them with baking soda and water.
Have A Soak
If soap and water just aren’t enough, you may want to try soaking your feet in a mixture of vinegar and water or Epsom salt and water. One of the best ways to avoid smelly feet is by soaking them in warm water. This will soften the skin and you can then wash away any dead skin cells that might have collected there. Mix up a vinegar-water or Epsom salt water mixture in the tub with warm water for 20 minutes of relaxation time before toweling off those tired toes!
Stay Dry
Keeping your feet dry can help keep them healthy. The problem with having wet feet is that they can sometimes cause blisters, dry skin, and fungus infections. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from happening again! All you have to do is keep them dry after cleaning, soaking, or scrubbing. An unpleasant smell comes from moisture, so it’s important to keep your shoes and socks as dry as possible. If you've noticed that your shoes have been leaving wet spots on the carpet or floor, it might be time to take action and get some new ones!
Take Care Of Your Shoes And Socks
Don't allow your shoes and socks to become a happy home for smelly microbes. Shoes should be air-dried between wearings. This will help decrease the chance of getting an athlete's foot. It is a good habit to alternate your shoes and socks every day, this will avoid the smell of feet. Allowing shoe time to fully dry out between wears can help to cut down on particularly smelly feet. You also can help keep your feet dry by choosing socks made of cotton, and shoes made of natural materials such as cotton or leather. With Skinatona’s Natural shoe spray deodorizer, you can get rid of odor-causing bacteria in sneakers and regular shoes. Spray directly into the inside of the shoe after each use of the shoe and it’s safe. You will not need to wash your walking or exercise shoes that often.
Apply Foot Powder
Did you know that if you apply foot powder to your feet before going to bed, the smell will be reduced? Foot powders are a must-have in your wardrobe after taking off sweaty shoes. Aside from containing talc to absorb moisture, they often contain deodorant and scent properties that can mask the smell of sweat instantly! Sprinkle some in before slipping the shoe back onto those tired toes at the end of a hard-working day, or use just after removing that same pair so as to make sure there isn't any leftover sweat inside which could cause bacteria buildup over time.
It's recommended that using a Natural Foot Butter daily, particularly at nighttime can promote soft and hydrated skin. Our Healthy Foot Butter contains coconut oil, aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, Shea butter, and vitamin E to hydrate and nourish cracked feet. Within the first seconds of applying it to your feet, you'll feel yourself sighing contentedly at how incredible it feels. Or perhaps our Natural Shoe Deodorizer Spray is what you need?
Medical Treatments
Sometimes, home remedies cannot get rid of that strong unpleasant smell. In this case, they may want to consult a doctor for special treatment. One popular treatment is a surgical procedure called bunionectomy, which can be done with local anesthesia and usually has a quick recovery time of about two weeks. Another form of treatment is an oral medication that can help reduce foot odor by reducing bacteria on the skin surface, called Dapsone or Aredia. Medical treatments for smelly feet are quite varied in terms of what type they are and how long they take to work. If you're looking for relief from your unpleasant foot odor problem, it's best to consult with your doctor first before choosing one specific option!
Is It Healthy To Have Smelly Feet?
The answer to this question depends on why the feet are smelling. If it is because of a medical condition, such as an athlete's foot or diabetes, then it can be unhealthy. However, if there isn't an underlying health issue and the smell is just due to sweat accumulation in shoes or socks these odors may not pose any serious risks for your health. So whether smelly feet are healthy really depends on what causes them. If you're not sure if your foot odor is due to a health issue, make an appointment with your physician and get it checked out!
