Why do my feet smell?
Summer is upon us and you’re probably spending more time doing outdoor activities. Which can means a return of smelly feet and shoes.
Foot Odor: clinically known as bromodosis, stems from a buildup of sweat and bacteria on the skin. While it can be funny to laugh about at times, stinky feet can be an embarrassing foot problem.
Smelly feet might not be anything serious, but in order to treat the odor effectively, you need to get to the root of the issue.
The key point to remember is that there are different causes leading to patients having sweaty, smelly, itchy feet. Successful treatment hinges on appropriate diagnosis.
Here’s everything you need to know about smelly feet, including common (and not-so-common) causes and treatments.
Fixing smelly feet
Once you know the cause of your foot odor, you can determine the best way to treat it.
If excess sweat is behind your smelly feet, you’ll want to tackle the cause of the sweating as well as prevent the sweating. For instance, lowering alcohol consumption or finding ways to manage anxiety will alleviate perspiration.
- Consider changing your socks more than once a day. It’s best to wear wicking socks made of natural or acrylic fiber blends.
- Antiperspirant. In the same way that you rub it under your arms, antiperspirants can offer solutions for your feet.
- Antifungals. You can treat athlete’s foot with over-the-counter creams. Look for ingredients such as clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, and tolnaftate.
- Soak your feet. A good old Epsom salt bath can help draw moisture away and close sweat glands.
- Charcoal or baking soda. Other natural home treatment options include charcoal-based agents, as well as baking soda-based agents that can be purchased over the counter or made at home.
- Tea Trea Oil. Try a thin layer of diluted tea tree oil to sweat-prone areas.
Medical treatments
If you have exhausted home and over-the-counter options, it is time to come see me so we can discuss medical therapies like Botox.
Schedule your appointment today.