Foot Odor in Insoles

Your feet consist of thousands of sweat glands that can transfer sweat to your shoes, according to Discovery Health. This can result in insoles that are highly smelly. Sometimes the smell can become so strong it's obvious even when you have shoes on.

SIgnificance

Foot odor is a result of bacteria that accumulate in dark, damp areas where you sweat -- particularly on your shoes, according to Discovery Health. The smell that results in your insoles is due to a collection of bacteria that give off an odor. The bacteria are not necessarily harmful.

Prevention

You can prevent smelly insoles by buying a shoe insert that contains the active ingredient charcoal, according to Mother Nature, a health and wellness website dedicated to finding remedies for everyday problems. Charcoal helps reduce moisture and bacteria. Keeping feet clean and dry and wearing clean socks every day can help achieve less foot odor in the insoles. You also can apply an antiperspirant to your feet, such as one that contains the active ingredient aluminum chloride hexahydrate. This helps reduce sweating.

Shoe Buying

Exercise caution when choosing what kind of shoes to buy, according to Focus on Style, a health and fashion website written by Sharon Hover. Shoes made with synthetic materials, rubber soles or plastic inner soles can cause feet to sweat more, resulting in greater insole odors. Buy shoes made from natural fibers, such as cotton or leather insoles.

Solution

If your shoe is highly odorous, sprinkling baking soda on the insoles overnight can help reduce the amount of bacteria. Remove the insoles and sprinkle the baking soda on the insoles or sprinkle it into the shoe, according to Reader's Digest. Dump out excess powder from the shoes to prevent the shoes from drying out.

Warning

In some instances, insoles and the feet do not respond to typical remedies, according to Discovery Health. When this occurs, see your physician. Your doctor may identify a structural defect in your feet or extra amount of sweat glands that are contributing to your foot odor. She can prescribe or recommend further treatments.