Even if it is the result of no fault of your own, having smelly feet can leave you feeling self-conscious. Nobody wants to live in fear that their foot odor is going to be the talk of those around them, but what can you do if you’ve noticed that you feet are starting to smell a little more pungent? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the causes of smelly feet and we share some prevention and treatment techniques.
Causes Of Smelly Feet
Odorous feet can be the result of controllable or uncontrollable factors, but regardless of the underlying cause, you will have options for treating the issue. In order to effectively treat foot odor, we need to understand what’s causing it to develop in the first place. Some of the most common causes of smelly feet include:
- Poor footwear ventilation
- Poor foot cleaning/hygiene
- Genetics
- Infection
- Hormones
You can’t control the genetics you are dealt and we all experience new hormonal expressions during different stages of development, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when it comes to treatment. By consulting with your primary care physician or a foot specialist, you can understand what’s likely contributing to your foot odor and some possible solutions to the problem.
Preventing And Treating Smelly Feet
Prevention and treatment techniques really come down to identifying contributing causes and taking some simple steps to account for these possible issues. For example, we’ll take a look at all of the above potential causes and offer at least one technique that may prevent or treat the underlying issue:
Poor Ventilation – If your shoes are too tight, your foot may not be able to regulate heat as easily, leading to sweating and the possibility of a foot odor. Review your shoes and make sure that your shoes a comfortable, supportive and breathable option.
Poor Hygiene – You likely scrub your arms, chest and stomach when you’re in the shower, but do you always bend over and scrub your feet? Make sure that you take a minute to really scrub your feet clean and that you shower regularly.
Genetics – You can’t change your genetics, but following the above tips and potentially seeking out medication if your genetics cause excessive sweating can help to manage foot odor.
Infection – Work to resolve an infection like athlete’s foot as soon as possible. Treating fungal or bacterial infections with topical treatments and antibiotics can resolve the underlying issue and the forces contributing to your smelly feet.
Hormones – Medications can help regulate hormone production, but it’s rarely the first line of defense. It’s more likely that your doctor will recommend a breathable shoe and improved foot hygiene before having you jump on a medication regimen for your foot odor.