Body odor results from the interaction between sweat and bacteria on the skin. Feet are particularly prone to odor problems, primarily because they have more sweat glands than any other part of the body, explains ePodiatry.com. The smell is exacerbated because footwear doesn't allow sweat to evaporate, and the odor is trapped inside. There are several steps you can take to treat stinky feet.
Foot Hygiene
Better foot hygiene can often eliminate foot odor. Proper cleansing significantly reduces the bacteria that contributes to the problem. Wash your feet with warm water and a mild soap at least twice daily and after perspiring whenever possible, lathering all the surface areas of your feet. Dry your feet thoroughly, paying particular attention to between the toes, which serve as breeding ground for bacteria, states MayoClinic.com.
Footwear
Going barefoot whenever possible allows your feet to air out. Also, change your socks throughout the day, especially when you get sweaty, advises podiatrist Glenn Copeland, D.P.M. of the Women's College Hospital in Toronto. Thick, soft socks made from natural fibers help by absorbing sweat, notes ePodiatry.com, while synthetic materials will keep sweat on the skin, contributing to foot odor. Cotton and wool are appropriate choices, as are athletic socks designed to wick moisture away from the skin. Shoes should be made from natural materials as well to permit feet to breathe. Leather, canvas or mesh are recommended by ePodiatry.com.
Foot Treatments
Apply an over-the-counter foot powder to your feet after bathing and periodically throughout the day. Powdering your shoes helps, too. Try talcum powder or cornstarch, suggests Suzanne M. Levine, D.P.M., a podiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital.
A tea-based foot soak may cure your foot odor, explains Diana Bihova, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. Steep 4 teabags for about 10 minutes in a quart of boiling water, then add it to enough cold water to soak your feet in. Soak for about half an hour twice a day until the odor is under control, then cut back to twice a week.
Acidic foot baths can also cure foot odor by eliminating much of the bacteria that is to blame. Dr. Levine offers two options: soak your feet twice a week for 15 minutes in 1 tbsp. of baking soda mixed into 1 qt. of water, or in the same amount of water with 1/2 cup of vinegar added in.
Foot antiperspirants and deodorants are available over-the-counter. However, if they prove ineffective, stronger products are available by prescription. These are generally made with a 20 percent aluminum chloride hexahydrate solution, says ePodiatry.com.
Treating Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a condition involving excessive perspiration. Treating the condition may be necessary to cure your foot odor. Prescription-strength antiperspirants are generally the first course of treatment. Iontophoresis is another option, in which a device is used at home to administer an electrical current to the feet that stifles sweating, explains MayoClinic.com. Oral medications such as anticholinergics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors or clonidine can be prescribed as well. Certain surgical procedures can treat hyperhidrosis too, including removal of sweat glands and interruption of the nerves that trigger sweating.
Member Comments
LiveLifeBetter January 18
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