Why Our Feet Smell Part 1

Info from Grandparents.com

Whether it’s your spouse, a coworker, or some unfortunate soul on the airport security line, we’ve all known someone who could clear a room with the stench of their sweaty dogs. Heck, maybe YOU even suffer from occasional stinky feet (a.k.a. eccrine bromhidrosis). They can happen to anyone, but pregnant women, teens, the elderly, folks with heart disease and diabetes, and people under a lot of stress are especially prone to the condition, which is essentially caused by perspiration.

"The feet have about half a million sweat glands, and this can lead to a whole lot of sweat," says Dr. Erika M. Schwartz, DPM, FACFAS, of the American Podiatric Medical Association. "When you wear socks and shoes, the sweat gets trapped inside. Bacteria and fungus can thrive in this type of warm, moist environment, and can produce odor."

To truly eliminate that aroma once and for all, you have to attack it on two fronts: your feet themselves, and your socks and shoes. Here’s how.

#1 - Wash your feet correctly

You might think that a simple shower scour would be enough to keep your toes clean. Nope. Pleasantly scented feet begin with proper washing technique, and many of us do it wrong.

To tackle foot odor, "wash feet thoroughly with an antibacterial soap daily," says Dr. Mark A. Kosinski, DPM, FIDSA, Professor at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. "[Then] dry feet thoroughly after bathing, paying special attention to the area between the toes," since that’s where moisture collects. And finally, for extra protection, "Spray both shoes and feet with an over-the-counter athlete’s foot spray powder." This process ensures your feet begin with a clean slate each morning.