Did you know your feet have more sweat glands than any other part of your body? Yep! What’s more, those feet of yours can produce more than pint of sweat in a single day! (And even more in summer.) With more than quarter a million sweat glands in each foot, your feet are the sweatiest part of your body. Add to this the fact that temperatures inside your shoes can easily rise as high as 102F, and it is no small wonder that your feet can also be the stinkiest part of your body. Pheeew!!!
The primary culprits in smelling up your feet are bacteria of the species micrococcus and corynebacterium. They live on our skin, and produce isovaleric acid, the compound that is responsible for that foul foot odor. The moisture of perspiration combines with the warm, dark interior of your shoes to create the perfect breeding ground for these bacteria, which promptly go forth and multiply and stink up your feet!
Here are a few tips to help you give those stinky smellies the boot this summer!
Pamper your Feet
* Practice good foot hygiene to keep bacterial levels at a minimum. Wash your feet every single day with mild, antibacterial soap and lukewarm water, and dry them thoroughly.
* Dust your feet with some cornstarch or baking soda before you wear your shoes, and between wearings.
* Soak your feet in very strong black tea for 10 minutes a day for two weeks. To make the tea, boil 2 teabags or teaspoons of black tea in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Add 4 cups of cool water, and soak your feet. The tannic acid found in black tea will kill the odor-causing bacteria.
Wear Clean, Absorbent Socks
* Change your socks regularly, at least once a day
* Avoid nylon socks; opt instead for absorbent, natural fiber materials such as cotton and wool, which will absorb perspiration moisture
* Wear thick, soft socks to help draw moisture away from your feet
* If you wear white socks, bleach them each time you wash them, to kill the bacteria.
* Wear socks whenever you wear closed shoes
Smelly Feet = Smelly Shoes
* Buy more than one pair of shoes, and then change your shoes everyday. This gives each pair a chance to dry out for at least 24 hours
* Avoid buying shoes made from synthetic materials such as plastic. Choose shoes made from leather, canvas or even mesh – materials which will let your feet breathe.
* Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes before you wear them
* Put a fabric softener dryer sheet in each shoe and leave it there overnight
* Fill an old sock with some baking soda or fresh kitty litter, and sew or tie a knot at the open end. Place one in each shoe, and leave overnight. Old pantyhose works just as well.
* Put your each smelly shoe in a separate Ziploc bag, (or any plastic bag) and leave them in the freezer overnight. The freezing temperatures will retard the growth of the odor-causing bacteria, and “cure” your shoes of the odor.
Caution…
Persistently stinky feet may be caused by an infection, or by an inherited condition such as hyperhidrosis. They need your doctor’s professional care.
References
*http://www.epodiatry.com/smelly-foot.htm
Information for health professionals on bromhidrosis
*http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=360
Official site of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
