Foot Odor & Bacteria

The human body is vulnerable to smelly odors—and your feet are no exception. With over 250,000 sweat glands in each of your feet and a host of resident bacteria, it’s no wonder that foot odor is commonplace. If it’s a recurring problem for you, you’re likely to find it frustrating and, on occasion, embarrassing. However, there are treatments you can use to cope with foot odor, including some very effective home remedies.

Bacteria

Millions of bacteria live on your feet, including Staphylococcus epidermis, which breaks down a chemical in sweat called leucine into isovaleric acid and causes foot odor. According to Japanese researchers in a study published in "Canadian Journal of Microbiology," another bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, is strongly linked to foot odor and is more prevalent in people with strong foot odor.

The conditions for foot odor become even more likely when you wear tight-fitting or enclosed shoes. Bacteria also live in your shoes and on socks. As your feet sweat inside the shoes, they become hotbeds for foot odor.

Foot Care

You need to be vigilant to fight off foot odor. The California Podiatric Medical Association offers some simple daily steps you can take. Top of the list is following proper hygiene to keep your feet clean, making sure to dry your feet off completely after washing. Apply an antiperspirant or foot powder to reduce sweating in your feet so bacteria have less to feed on.

Shoe Smarts

Your choice of shoes and proper shoe care can reduce perspiration and cut down on bacterial activity on your feet. The “Doctors Book of Home Remedies” recommends choosing open-toed shoes or sandals whenever possible and avoiding rubber and plastic shoes. Don’t wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row—allow shoes to dry out. Changing your socks every day, if not more frequently, also helps.

Soak in a Tea Foot Bath

If living with foot odor has become a daily norm, there are a few remedies you should try, starting with a tea foot bath. In the “Doctors Book of Home Remedies,” the editors of Prevention magazine recommend soaking feet in strong black tea. This popular beverage contains compounds called tannins which kill bacteria that cause foot odor. The tannic acid also closes the pores on the feet and helps to keep them dry longer, preventing foot odor.

To make the foot bath, the “Doctors Book of Home Remedies” editors suggest boiling three or four tea bags in 1 quart of water for approximately 10 minutes. Add some cold water until the bath reaches a comfortable temperature. Soak feet for about 20 or 30 minutes. Dry thoroughly, and apply a foot powder. Try this treatment daily or twice a day until foot odor subsides, and then about twice a week if foot odor comes back.

Wear Copper Socks

Using copper to kill bacteria and other microorganisms isn’t new, explains Gadi Borkow and Jeffrey Gabbay in the "Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management." The Celts and American pioneers used copper as a biocide, and so have many others in Africa and Asia.

Socks called CopperSoles® have a patented copper compound in the fabric that destroy bacteria and fungus known to target the socks and contribute to foot odor. The American Podiatric Medical Association has endorsed the socks.