Smelly feet, or medically called bromodosis, are a common problem for many men and women. Stinky feet are not fun for anyone. There is nothing more embarrassing than to remove your shoes and realize that your feet are stinky.
What causes smelly feet?
Feet smell because bacteria on the skin spell out sweat that comes from the pores. Therefore, a cheesy-like smell is released as the sweat decays.
The main causes of sweaty and smelly feet include:
- Poor personal hygiene;
- Wearing the same shoes each day;
- Hormonal changes (teenagers and pregnant women are particularly prone);
- Stress, and
- Sweating more than usual (hyperhidrosis).
Effective Ways to Stop Foot Odor
There are an effective and simple treatments that you can use at home, which will expel foot odor within a week.
- Black tea
Give your feet some tea! The acid in the black tea closes the pores and reduce the amount of sweat and smell. It also acts as a great natural antibiotic, destroying the bacteria on the feet. Just add 2 teabags of black tea to a pint of water and boil the mixture for 5-7 minutes. Add 8 cups of cool water, then pour the mixture into a large bowl or a tub. Soak the feet for about 25-30 minutes. Do this once a day for one week.
- Hibiscrub Soap
This antibacterial soap is a fast and surefire food odor cure. The Hibiscrub soap is available at your local pharmacy or organic cosmetic store. Apply this soap to your feet and leave it on for 7-8 minutes and then wash it off. For best results, do this twice a day for one week.
- Baking Soda and Lemon
Baking soda can help with smelly feet. It is usually used to kill bacteria, soften the feet and control the odor. On the other hand, lemon aids control excessive sweating and has a nice fresh scent. Make a soak by using ¼ cup of baking soda, 8 cups of water, and freshly squeezed lemon juice from one lemon. Place all the ingredients in a basin and soak your feet. In order to get the wanted result, do this for about 15-20 minutes. In the end, dry your feet completely.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can create an acidic environment that destroys bacteria on the feet. Simply mix ½ a cup of apple cider vinegar with 8 cups of warm water. Then, soak the feet in this mixture for about 15-20 minutes. When you are done, you can wash the feet with your regular soap and some water in order to reduce the vinegar smell. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar at the moment you can use a regular vinegar.
Preventing Food Odor
It’s important to wash your feet frequently and dry them thoroughly. Pregnant women and teenagers especially must be discouraged from wearing the same pair of socks and shoes all the time.
If you’re especially prone to sweaty and smelly feet, you can:
- Use a foot antiperspirant or spray deodorant on your feet.
- Use detachable medicated insoles for your shoes.
- Change your socks more often.
- Wear canvas or leather shoes. Wear some open-toed sandals in summer.
Sweaty feet can also be treated with antibacterial foot scrubs, but you should avoid using these foot scrubs if you have eczema or broken skin.
When to see your doctor
The smelly feet condition often clears up on its own, but there are also certain cases when it can be a symptom of some medical disorder.
If you have tried all of these home remedies and the odor still persists, you need to see your doctor. It will recommend you iontophoresis (a method of introducing ionic compounds into the body throughout the skin with a local electric current) or medical antiperspirants.
Conclusion:
The best way to prevent food odor is not wearing the same shoes two days in a raw and good personal hygiene. It is important to wash your feet each day and dry them completely, particularly between the toes. Pregnant women and teenagers especially need to be discouraged from wearing the same pair of socks and shoes all the time. Every person should wear clean socks every day. Wool or cotton are much better than nylon.
These home remedies to prevent sweaty and stinky feet will probably help you. If you don’t get the wanted results, or you are concerned about how much your feet are sweating, you should consult your doctor. Athlete’s foot could also cause the feet to smell. This condition can be treated with antifungal treatments that you can find in a pharmacy. See your doctor if you are worried that this problem is not clearing up.