Smelly feet are a common problem all year that can cause embarrassment and reduce your self-esteem. Sweaty feet are often the cause of smelly feet; therefore, the first piece of advice is to avoid sweating!
Why do feet sweat?
Before knowing how to overcome this problem and treat it, we need to know the causes which may be due to:
- Hormonal changes that cause excessive sweating, which mostly affect teens and pregnant women.
- Standing all day.
- Wear shoes that are too tight.
- Having a medical condition called hyperhidrosis.
- Wear the shoes after washing them and before they dry well.
Treatment
Although you may not be able to get rid of the bad smell completely, you can reduce it by following these steps:
- Wash your feet every day, soak them in water and rub them, but do not forget to dry them well, especially between the toes. You can also use antibacterial soap once a day.
- Wear cotton, wool, or athletic socks, and change them every day and also when you get wet.
- Choose shoes with care and ensure that they fit properly, since tight shoes may cause your feet to sweat more than usual.
- Avoid wearing the same shoes two days in a row and try to let them dry in a well-ventilated place before wearing them again.
- Wash shoes or insoles if they are washable, but be sure to dry them thoroughly and completely before putting them on.
- Avoid shoes made of plastic. Some plastics materials do not allow your feet to breathe.
- Take off your shoes as soon as you get home and let your feet breathe a little, but don’t walk barefoot a lot.
- Do not share shoes or towels.
- Keep your nails short and clean and remove any tough skin with a foot file.
- Follow a routine for taking care of your feet.
But if you sweat a lot, you might want to try:
- Spray deodorant or antiperspirant on your feet.
- Medical insoles that have a deodorizing effect.
- Foot powder to absorb sweat.
- Special anti-bacterial socks
- Leather or cloth shoes because they allow your feet to breathe unlike plastic shoes
When do you see a doctor?
Although smelly feet is a harmless problem, sometimes it can be a sign of a medical condition! Therefore, you will need to consult a podiatrist to prescribe the appropriate treatment for you if the previous advice did not help, or if you feel that the rate of sweating is abnormally high.
