If you cringe when you take your shoes and socks off, you’re not alone. It’s common for feet to stink. And those shoes and socks are partly to blame.
“Wearing socks and closed-toed shoes creates a warm and wet environment, which ultimately produces off odors,” says Nicole Brouyette, D.P.M., a podiatrist at Henry Ford Health. “In fact, our daily footwear, especially the ones we wear while playing sports or sweating, can play a key role in foul odors.”
Why Do Feet Smell?
Feet have more sweat glands than any other body part, so they naturally produce a lot of sweat. If you’re wearing socks and shoes, that perspiration can get trapped. The resulting moisture creates an ideal home for bacteria to grow.
When sweat and bacteria build up, odors develop. The technical term for this phenomenon is bromodosis, which essentially means smelly feet and excessive body odor.
While everyone’s feet smell sometimes, some peoples’ feet produce more stink. “If you wear shoes for 16 hours a day while working in a warm environment, your feet are more likely to smell than someone who works from home and spends most of their day barefoot,” Dr. Brouyette says.
Other groups at risk of stinky feet:
- People who exercise frequently or sweat while wearing socks and sneakers
- Pregnant women and teenagers (hormonal changes lead to more sweat)
- People who have a medical condition like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, lupus and arthritis that causes them to sweat more than average
Strategies To Neutralize Smelly Feet
While bromodosis can be embarrassing, it’s usually surprisingly simple to address. These five strategies can help prevent—and treat—stinky feet:
1. Let your feet breathe.
Most of us have to wear socks and shoes for at least a few hours each day. Unfortunately, keeping your feet in a closed environment traps in sweat, moisture, bacteria and odors.
The best defense: Take every opportunity to let your feet breathe. Choose breathable footwear—and avoid shoes made of rubber. “Most people don’t realize that rubber shoes, even the ones that have air holes in them, trap in heat,” Dr. Brouyette says.
2. Change your socks frequently.
To keep feet dry and healthy, change your socks at least once a day (more if you’ve been sweating in them), and never put on the same pair of socks twice. “You might even consider buying moisture-wicking socks, which have silver embedded in the material,” Dr. Brouyette says. “That silver lining acts as a natural deodorant.”
3. Keep your feet clean and dry.
Wash your feet every night with antibacterial soap, and make sure they’re completely dry before you cover them with socks, shoes or slippers, Dr. Brouyette suggests. Since dirt and bacteria can get trapped beneath your toenails, clip your nails regularly and keep them clean. Most importantly, make sure to dry the webbing between your toes and never put cream or moisturizer between your toes, where trapped-in moisture can make bacteria flourish.
Foot And Ankle Care At Henry Ford
4. Try foot powder.
If you’re prone to sweaty feet, using foot powder daily can help keep your feet dry and prevent odors from forming. “Just sprinkle it on after you clean and dry your feet and before putting your feet into socks and shoes,” Dr. Brouyette suggests.
5. Clean your footwear.
To stave off odors for good, rotate your footwear each day, so your shoes have time to air out before you wear them again. Still can’t bear the stench? Wash shoes in hot water with a little bit of bleach or spray them with a disinfectant like Lysol and let them dry completely before wearing them again.
“If you’re wearing rubber closed-toed shoes, like Crocs, wash them after each wear,” suggests Dr. Brouyette. You can also replace insoles every month or two.
When To See A Doctor About Smelly Feet
Fortunately, most people with smelly feet don’t have a fungal infection that requires medical treatment. Instead, the bacteria that’s in the shoe is causing the odor.
But if you’ve been cleaning and caring for your feet for a few weeks and they still stink, see a doctor or podiatrist. “You might have a bacterial or fungal overgrowth like athlete’s foot,” Dr. Brouyette says.
Signs of infection include:
- Itching
- Redness
- Dry, cracked or peeling skin
Whether your foot stench is caused by a mix of sweat and bacteria, a fungal infection or something else entirely, a variety of treatments can help. With a prescription medication, you should be able to nix foot odor within a week.
Reviewed by Dr. Nicole Brouyette, a foot and ankle surgeon who sees patients for podiatric needs at Henry Ford Hospital — Detroit, Henry Ford Medical Center — Fairlane and Henry Ford Medical Center – Pierson Clinic.
