What causes stinky feet?

Causes of Stinky Feet
There are many kinds of bacteria on the bottom of your feet. These bacteria live off the sweat that your feet are constantly producing. When they feed on the sweat, the bacteria create an acid that causes foot odor
foot odor
Foot odor (also spelled foot odour) or bromodosis is a type of body odor that affects the feet of humans. It is sometimes considered to be an unpleasant smell, but can also be the target of foot fetishism, more specifically as a form of olfactophilia.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Foot_odor
. Besides bacteria, fungus may also cause you to have smelly feet.


How do I get rid of smelly feet?

What Can You Do?
  1. Be clean. Wash your feet every day. ...
  2. Wear the right socks. Cotton, some wools, and special knits made for athletes will absorb sweat and allow your feet to breathe. ...
  3. Make sure your shoes aren't too tight. ...
  4. Switch shoes. ...
  5. Kill those germs. ...
  6. Wash shoes or insoles. ...
  7. Avoid shoes made of plastic. ...
  8. Go barefoot.


What is smelly feet a symptom of?

The main causes of smelly feet are a build-up of sweat and bacteria on them and fungal infections like athlete's foot. The amount you sweat can be affected by: hot weather. exercise.


What foods cause stinky feet?

Foods that Help Make Your Feet Stink
  • Sulfur-rich foods - and not just eggs e.g., onion, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beer, tea, and coffee.
  • Spicy foods.
  • Greasy foods such as fast foods.
  • Chocolate.
  • Refined carbs e.g., white bread, white rice, white pasta, pastries.
  • Low-carbs (particularly on the keto diet)


Does smelly feet mean your healthy?

So while foot odor doesn't necessarily signify a health problem, in rare instances, it can be a sign of a medical issue. For example, hyperhidrosis, a condition in which one's sweat glands produce excessive sweat, can lead to excessive odor.


Why do feet stink?



Why do my feet smell even though they are clean?

“The primary cause is from a lack of ventilation for your feet. There are thousands of sweat glands in feet, which produce quite a bit of sweat each day. The unpleasant smell comes when the perspiration isn't allowed to evaporate.”

Does stress cause stinky feet?

“There's no doubt that when people are under more stress, they're going to sweat more,” Kor says. That stress-induced sweat, however, is made up of different ingredients than regular heat-induced sweat because it's produced in a different type of sweat gland, and it typically leads to a worse smell.

How do you get rid of stinky feet naturally?

Home Remedies for Foot Odor
  1. Wash your feet twice a day with antibacterial soap.
  2. After a bath, use a cotton swab to dab between the toes with rubbing alcohol.
  3. Soak your feet in salt water or baking soda.
  4. Bathe your feet in vinegar.
  5. Clean and scrub feet with a pumice stone.
  6. Sprinkle corn starch into your socks.


What soap is best for smelly feet?

Best products for keeping feet clean
  • Cuticura Medicated Anti-Bacterial Bar Soap. ...
  • Safeguard Antibacterial Soap. ...
  • Heinz All-Natural Distilled White Vinegar. ...
  • Zenda Naturals Natural Earth Lava Pumice Stone. ...
  • Lotrimin AF Athlete's Foot Antifungal Powder. ...
  • Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant.


Is foot odor a symptom of diabetes?

Many people think that foot odor is linked to diabetes. Although having smelly feet doesn't indicate diabetes, people with diabetes do need to take special care when it comes to their feet. Diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy and peripheral artery disease, and feet may get damaged without your knowing it.

What doctor treats stinky feet?

However, as a general rule, if you've been struggling with smelly feet for a while and home care has not helped, you should discuss it with a podiatrist. If your foot odor is accompanied by itching and skin changes, you should definitely see a specialist.


Can you put deodorant on your feet?

Antiperspirants are considered the first line of treatment for excessive sweating and can be used nearly anywhere on the body where sweating is a problem. That's right, antiperspirants are not just for your underarms – you can use them on your hands, feet, face, back, chest, and even groin.

What bacteria causes stinky feet?

As a result, foot odor was found to be derived from isovaleric acid, which is produced when Staphylococcus epidermidis, a resident species of the normal cutaneous microbial flora, degrades leucine present in sweat.

What kills bacteria in feet?

Soak your feet 1-2 times per day in a water and baking soda bath. After thoroughly drying your feet with a towel, be sure to allow them to air dry completely. Change your shoes every day. Take them off during the day to let them air dry when your feet become warm and moist.


Can hormones cause smelly feet?

Hormones can make a big difference in how much sweat your glands produce, which is why teenagers and pregnant women are especially prone to sweaty–and then stinky–feet. Hormones can also amp up due to stress, so if you're going through a rough time in life your feet might show it too!

What is swamp foot?

Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, occurs when the feet are wet for long periods of time. It can be quite painful, but it can be prevented and treated.

Does stinky feet mean athlete's foot?

If you begin to notice redness or dry, scaly skin around the toes, you may be suffering from Athlete's foot. This possibility is heightened when accompanied by foul odor, which is a sign of both bacteria and fungus abrading the skin of your feet.


What is the best product for sweaty feet?

Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion, A dermatologist-recommended solution to stop sweaty, smelly feet, Helps prevent blisters, Great for hyperhidrosis.

What kind of socks are best for sweaty feet?

Breathable fabrics also repel water and allow sweat to quickly evaporate. Cotton is the most breathable fabric, but it also retains heat, which can accelerate sweating. Merino wool is another popular material for socks due to its breathability, cushion and moisture-wicking functions.

Should I spray my shoes with deodorant?

Even fresh air and alternating which shoes you wear is not a long-term solution. Many people neutralise the smell using various household remedies. If you are looking for a long-term and lasting solution, however, you are much better off using a shoe deodorant.


What does diabetic feet look like?

Although rare, nerve damage from diabetes can lead to changes in the shape of your feet, such as Charcot's foot. Charcot's foot may start with redness, warmth, and swelling. Later, bones in your feet and toes can shift or break, which can cause your feet to have an odd shape, such as a “rocker bottom.”

What does diabetes odor smell like?

Some people with diabetes compare the smell of insulin to the scent of Band-Aids, printer ink, Lysol, or new plastic shower curtain liners (4). Apparently, phenols are responsible for the aroma associated with insulin (5).

What smell do diabetics have?

If your breath smells like acetone -- the same fruity scent as nail polish remover -- it may be a sign of high levels of ketones (acids your liver makes) in your blood. It's a problem mainly of type 1 diabetes but also can happen with type 2 if you get a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).


Can you smell diabetes on someone?

BODY ODOR: FRUITY BREATH IS A SYMPTOM OF DIABETES

D., chief medical officer at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. People with type 1 diabetes generally experience it more than those with type 2 diabetes do.

What are the signs of diabetes in a woman?

Symptoms
  • Feeling more thirsty than usual.
  • Urinating often.
  • Losing weight without trying.
  • Presence of ketones in the urine. ...
  • Feeling tired and weak.
  • Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
  • Having blurry vision.
  • Having slow-healing sores.
Previous question
Why did I get lupus?