What is the cause of smelly feet and how to prevent and treat them?

Smelly feet can be more than just a bad joke, you may be self conscious about them, and it may cause you anxiety when you are required to take of your shoes in public (e.g. at the leisure centre, in a shoe shop or at the doctors) – but read this article to find out the cause, prevention and treatment of this embarrassing problem.

What is the cause of smelly feet?

Smelly feet (or Bromodosis to give it its medical term), is caused when your feet are not able to breath due to your choice of socks and shoes.

This results in an increased amount of sweat produced which cannot evaporate so your skin stays damp. These conditions are ideal for bacteria to breed. As the bacteria feed on your sweat their waste products make your feet stink.

Who can get smelly feet?

Everyone is prone to getting smelly feet regardless of the time of year or the temperature.

Teenagers, pregnant women and menopausal women can be more susceptible to smelly feet due to changes in their hormones. When you are on your feet all day, you are obese, or you are under a lot of stress you may suffer from smelly feet also.

People whose sweat gland’s produce excessive sweat can give rise to smelly feet. The medical condition of excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis.

How to treat and prevent smelly feet?

Smelly feet can be treated easily by maintaining good feet hygiene and changing your socks and shoes regularly. Below are a list of recommendations to help keep your feet fresh:

• Wash your feet daily – use an antibacterial soap and ensure you clean between your toes vigorously.
• Dry your feet thoroughly – pay particular attention to between your toes as this is where the bacteria breeds the most.
• Cut toenails – trim your toenails regularly so they are kept short.
• Remove hard skin – use a foot file or a pumice stone to remove the dead skin. Dead skin will provide a breeding ground for bacteria when it is damp and moist.
• Alternate your shoes daily – allow your shoes to dry out for at least 24 hours before being worn again as wet shoes allow bacteria to grow more quickly on your feet.
• Wear well fitting, breathable shoes – leather, canvas or mesh shoes are best. Do not use synthetic materials such as plastic as they are not breathable. In warm weather, wear sandals and try and go barefoot as much as possible to allow your feet to breathe.
• Change your socks daily – use natural fibre socks such as cotton and wool only. Do not use synthetic materials in socks as they lack breathability.

When your smelly feet problem persists, you may wish to use some of the following products on your feet:

• Antiperspirant sprays – such as the ones you would use on your armpits may deliver further relief and are cheaper to buy than specialised foot deodorants.
• Medicated insoles – change frequently as recommended by the manufacturer. These will absorb the smell as well as managing the bacteria.
• Antifungal foot spray or medicated foot powder – both these medications seek to kill the smell producing microbes as well as managing the sweat production.
• Antifungal and antibacterial soaps – use as a cleansing remedy.
• Surgical spirit – use cotton wool to dab surgical spirit on your feet to help dry out the skin.

When to see a doctor or podiatrist?

Smelly feet are normally a harmless issue which clears up with the use of the recommendations above. Sometimes though it can be a sign of another medical condition. You should go to your doctor or podiatrist if the treatments you have used have not reduced your foot odour or you are concerned that you are sweating profusely.

Your doctor or podiatrist can provide a strong prescription antiperspirant for your feet or they can send you for iontophoresis treatment. Iontophoresis is a process that administers a tiny electronic current through water to your feet to tackle excessive sweating.

Smelly feet does not normally denote a health issue, but on some occasions, doctors or podiatrists may use them as a guide for honing in on a medical issue. The following are a list of the medical issues that may have smelly feet as an underlying condition:

• Diabetes – It is a chronic condition which because of poor circulation should be dealt with as quickly as possible, as any foot odour problem could be the sign of a more serious issue.
• Heart disease – It is a condition that may cause poor circulation, which can result in a number of secondary ailments including smelly feet.
• Liver disease and Kidney issues – Are chronic conditions where the body does not properly deal with waste products. These products are then ejected from the body using its sweat glands thus the increased problem of smelly feet.
• Zinc Deficiency – It is a deficiency which can be the cause of body odour, as zinc is required to detoxify the body and waste processes.
• Hyperhidrosis – It is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating throughout the body.
• Fungal foot infections – It is an infection such as athlete’s foot which can cause dry, flaky skin that provide a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.