Do stinky feet have you hiding in shame?

(VOA Photo S. Herman) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is really no delicate way to say it - foot odor is obnoxious and embarrassing. The good news is there are several things that can be done to counteract the problem. So don’t hide at home in shame.
Foot odor is caused by sweat and although sweat itself has no odor it creates a place for bacteria to thrive. Bacteria occurs naturally on your feet and hair on the toes increases the hiding places for the bacteria. Your feet are more densely covered with sweat glands than any other place on your body. Because your feet are usually encased in shoes all day the sweat has no chance to evaporate, so it’s trapped inside your foot wear.

Although there are several factors that can contribute to smelly feet, there is also a multitude of preventive and extinguishing methods that can control and eliminate the problem. Factors that contribute may include:

• Certain medications
• Hormonal changes
• Stress

Now that you know the problem exists let’s look at options for correcting it. Preventive measures and methods to extinguish the problem are quite often the same. What you can do to eliminate foot odor includes:

• Wash your feet daily, dry thoroughly especially between the toes and apply foot powder
• Wear clean socks
• Don’t wear the same shoes two days in a row and allow them to dry thoroughly
• Avoid synthetic socks as they don’t allow for as much breathability as natural fibers
• A few pinches of baking soda, which is very inexpensive, can keep your feet and shoes fresh
• Swabbing feet with rubbing alcohol will freshen feet and rid them of bacteria
• Use a hand sanitizer to aid in killing bacteria on your feet
• Rub your feet with corn starch as it will absorb perspiration

There are other more aggressive methods of treating foot odor if you have a persistent problem.  A low level electrical current can be applied to the skin, which will hold foot sweating at bay for several weeks. In the most severe cases, Dr. Boucher can cut a nerve that controls the sweating.

So take heart, there is a solution for you. On those really depressing days, when even the dog won’t fetch your shoes, you have foot odor control options. Dr. Boucher is available to advise you on your foot odor problem. Call her at (203)238-3668. She can help your feet feel fresh all day.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_odor
http://www.epodiatry.com/smelly-foot.htm

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