More than anything, smelly feet can be embarrassing. To remedy the situation, you need to take your feet out of your shoes, but if you do, people around you might smell the horrid odor. So you continue to do your best to hide it. But did you know that it makes the smelly feet situation worse?

Your feet have about 3,000 sweat glands per square inch of feet. As you get hot throughout the day, your body uses these glands to release heat, making parts of your body sweaty. Some people may not sweat as much through the hands and feet, instead releasing heat through the head, armpits, and/or back. For everyone else, hands and feet can easily get sweaty, and cause problems when they are covered. In these cases, sweat leaves through the feet and into the socks. When socks are drenched in sweat, it can then cause dampness in the shoes’ inner lining, causing stinky feet, socks, and shoes. The damp and dark environments are the perfect breeding ground for bacterial and fungal growth – and they are the reason for the smell.

While this issue can be embarrassing, not addressing the issue can cause worse issues. Bacterial or fungal infections can lead to inflammation and pain, or worse, foot ulcers. Foot odor is a problem that occurs to anyone as a natural process of the body, but there are ways to deal with it. The following tips may be helpful, especially for folks who may have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), are taking certain medications, or are experiencing hormonal or stress issues:

• Rotate shoes and let them dry out completely each time you wear them. A bit of baking soda or baby powder can help to reduce moisture.
• Wash your feet every day with warm water and soap to reduce the chance of bacterial infection. Dry your feet completely and put on new socks. Never re-wear your socks.
• Inspect your feet daily for any rashes or other signs of bacterial or fungal infections.
• Wear socks whenever you wear closed-toed shoes. If you sweat excessively, bring another pair with you to change socks midday. Moisture-wicking breathable socks are best for preventing dampness in the shoes.
• Ask a podiatrist if you should apply foot sprays or foot powders.

Dr. Jonathan M. Kletz at Texas Foot Works can help you find other ways to deal with your persistent foot odor, as well as see if you have another underlying proble. Make an appointment at any of our Abrams (Dallas), Athens, and Gun Barrell City, TX offices so that he can assess your needs and get rid of your stinky feet!