Foot odor is an unpleasant condition that is very common in all societies. It is usually caused by sweat and bacteria accumulated on the feet. Foot hygiene can be easily treated with the treatment of an underlying disease.
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What causes foot odor?
Your feet have many sweat glands and sweat a lot every day. If this sweat accumulates under your shoes and socks, it creates a bad smell. This sweat feeds the bacteria. The bacteria you pick up with your feet feed on this sweat and secrete an acid that creates an odor.
In addition, sweaty feet in hot and humid areas create a good environment for fungal growth. Like bacteria in fungi, it creates an odor in a sweaty environment.
Poor foot hygiene, wearing the same shoes every day, not changing socks and in some diseases prepare the environment for foot odor. Wearing narrower or wider shoes than they should be, standing for a long time, being under intense stress can be counted among the reasons that increase foot odor.
More foot odor is observed in groups that experience hormonal changes such as women (menopause, pregnancy, etc.), young people.
The feet sweat more in those who exercise a lot.
Overweight people, people who sweat excessively (hyperhidrosis), hyperthyroidism, use of antidepressants can also be counted among the reasons for sweating and odor formation in the feet.
When to go to the doctor for foot odor?
There are things you can do at home for foot odor. It is not an emergency. However, if you have an underlying disease, wounds on your feet, signs of fungus, cracks, and foot odor has been an important limiting factor in your life, it would be beneficial to consult a physician.
What can be done to prevent foot odor?
In order to prevent the formation of odor on your feet, first of all, a good foot care is required.
Here are some things you can do for good foot care:
- Wash your feet at least twice a day using soap,
- Dry your feet after washing them, do not leave them damp, ensure that especially between the toes is dry,
- Use foot powder or antiperspirant creams,
- File the heel parts with a foot file from time to time,
- Cut your toenails regularly, long nails cause ingrown nails, infection and fungus formation,
- Try not to wear the same shoes every day, let your shoes dry and air out,
- Take care that your shoes are suitable for the size of the feet, do not wear narrow or wide shoes,
- Prefer cotton socks that will not make your feet sweaty,
- Change your socks every day, do not wear damp socks,
- Do not walk barefoot in common areas,
- Do not share your shoes or socks with others,
- If necessary, antibacterial soaps, antibacterial powders and creams, foot deodorants, antibacterial socks can be tried. However, you should definitely get the support of a health professional for these,
- Soaking your feet in salt water for some days can help prevent bacteria and fungi.
What does the doctor do for the treatment of foot odor?
If there is a disease underlying your foot odor, that disease should be treated.
Especially foot and nail fungus requires a long and difficult treatment process. Sometimes minor surgical procedures may be required. Your doctor will assist you in the treatment of fungus with appropriate medication or, if necessary, nail surgery.
He will recommend a suitable cream or other treatment method for heel cracks.
If sweating is the cause, they may recommend a stronger antiperspirant or treatment to reduce sweating.
A treatment called iontophoresis (passing a weak electrical current through the affected areas), clip-on ETS method, botox application can help prevent sweating.
What are the traditional methods that can be applied at home to eliminate foot odor?
Here are some traditional home remedies to help get rid of foot odor:
- Salt Water: Moistening your feet with salt water will clean the bacteria and fungi accumulated in the sweat glands and dry your feet. Before going to bed, add 4 teaspoons of salt and 4 glasses of water to a basin where your feet can enter. Soak your feet in this mixture for 15-20 minutes. Then dry your feet thoroughly. Doing this every few days will be beneficial for your foot health.
- Tea: Another method that will reduce your foot odor and that you can easily apply at home is your used tea bags. Add a liter of water and 4-5 tea bags to a basin where you can fit your feet. It doesn’t matter if the tea bags are black or green tea. In the evening, soak your feet in this water for 15-20 minutes, then dry your feet. You can do it twice a week.
- Soda: Add a liter of warm water and 2 tablespoons of soda to a basin where your feet can fit. Soak your feet in this water for 15-20 minutes in the evening. Then dry it with a clean towel. If you apply this twice a week for a month, you will notice that your feet are softened and the odor is noticeably reduced.
- Vinegar: Add a liter of warm water and 2 glasses of preferably homemade vinegar to a basin where your feet can fit. Soak your feet in this water for 15-20 minutes, then dry them with a clean towel. Then wash your feet with soap. Dry thoroughly again. If you apply this method once a week, you will notice that the odor on your feet will disappear in a short time thanks to the antibacterial properties of vinegar.
- Lavender Oil: Add a liter of water and a tablespoon of lavender oil to a basin where your feet can fit and soak your feet in this water for 15-20 minutes. Then dry it.
- Lemon peel: After cleaning your feet thoroughly, rubbing with lemon peel for 15 minutes can be a solution to foot odor.
- Epsom salt: Add one liter of warm water and 10 drops of Epsom salt to a basin and soak your feet in this water for 20 minutes. Dry with a clean towel. You will feel that the moisture content of your feet is balanced, the odor is reduced, and your foot pain is relieved.
- Sage: Put some sage in your daily shoes in the evening. The sage remaining in the shoes until the morning will reduce the formation of odor in your shoes.
- Baking soda: Pour some sodium carbonate into your socks and leave it overnight. Thanks to the antibacterial and pH balancing properties of baking soda, you will notice that the formation of odor on your feet is reduced.