Stinky Feet is a problem that many people
have to deal with on a daily basis. Often described as having a vinegar,
ammonia or cheese smell, it can be an embarrassing issue with no easy
solution
The primary catalyst is sweat. The human foot has around 250,000 sweat glands that produce up to 236mL (1 cup) of perspiration per day. Interestingly enough, sweat itself has no odor. It is sweat in conjunction with other factors that can lead to having stinky feet.
The primary catalyst is sweat. The human foot has around 250,000 sweat glands that produce up to 236mL (1 cup) of perspiration per day. Interestingly enough, sweat itself has no odor. It is sweat in conjunction with other factors that can lead to having stinky feet.
Causes of
Stinky Feet
Bacteria
There are several types of bacteria
associated with causing Stinky Feet. The most common is Brevibacterium. Found
primarily on the foot, it feeds off of dead skin. As it feeds, a gas
known as methanethiol is produced. It has a sulfur like aroma that has
been likened to that of cheese or rotting cabbage. Interestingly enough, Brevibacterium is
used in the fermentation process of certain cheese.
Propionibacterium is a rod shaped bacterium found mostly in the
sebaceous sweat glands. It has the unique ability to metabolize amino
acids contained in sweat into propionic acid. Propionic acid is commonly
found in sweat and is recongnized by a strong, vinegar smell.
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacteria not only found on feet, but
over the entire human body as well. As it interacts with sweat, it
produces isoveric acid which is known to have a cheese or musty odor.
Skin Infection
Keratolysis is a skin infection that results
from prolonged wearing of shoes or boots in the presence of excessive
sweating. It is caused by bacteria and is characterized by crater
like depressions on the soles and toes. Keratolysis infections tend to
have a sulfur like odor which is a result of the bacteria breakingdown skin.
Contrary to popular belief, Athlete’s Foot
does not generally cause Stinky Feet. It’s a fungal infection generally
contracted by walking barefoot on moist, stagnant surfaces such as gym
lockerooms or showers.
Diet
What we eat can play a significant role in
not only Stinky Feet, but body odor and bad breath as well. Nutrients and
compounds contained in food are essential for day to day sustenance, however
some of them, especially in overabundance can influence odor. Sulfides
and other organic compounds have pungent odors and are often released in the
body as food is broken down. These compounds are absorbed into the body
and released through the skin and sweat.
Over consumption of foods high in sulfides
and other smelly compounds will naturally cause not only feet, but the entire
body to smell unpleasant. For example, people who are on low carbohydrate
diets or who consume high amounts of protein tend to suffer from a condition
commonly known as keto breath or ketosis odor. Due to the deprivation of
carbohydrates, production of ketones are increased. Ketone odor has been
described like rotting fruit or acetone. In addition, foods high in
protein tend to also be high in choline and carnitine. These compounds
are broken down by the body and one of the results is trimethylamine; a
compound known to have a fishy odor.
Foods commonly associated with odor issues
include red meat, seafood, egg yolks, garlic, onions, yogurt, beans, asparagus,
cabbage, and spices such as mustard seed and coriander.
Remedies
for Stinky Feet
1. Clean your
Feet: Take a good foot scrub and apply it on your feet. Scrub your feet by
using force. Do this for 5 minutes or more. Then, wash it off with warm water,
and pat dry. Apply a hand sanitizer. This will destroy the smelly odour from
your feet.
2.
Vinegar and Alcohol: Take ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of isopropyl
alcohol. Mix them together. Apply it on your feet. It will kill the bacteria,
without harming or irritating your skin.
3. Talcum
Powder: Apply any talcum powder on your feet. This will keep the sweat away
and remove the stinky smell.
4. Baking
Soda: Take a small amount of baking soda on your palms and rub it on your
feet. Baking soda will prevent the bacteria from mingling with your sweat;
hence, your feet won’t smell stinky. Put some baking soda in your shoes or
sneakers as well as in your socks to avoid the unpleasant odour from spreading.
5. Cornstarch:
Apply some amount of cornstarch on your feet. This will help to prevent
excessive sweating, thereby alleviating foot odour.
6. Bleach:
Pour lukewarm water in a tub or bucket and add a few drops of bleach in it.
Now, sit down, relax and soak your feet in bleach water. Repeat this once a
week. If you feel like your feet have become dry, then use some baby oil.
7. Green Tea:
Take some green tea bags. Pour lukewarm water in a bucket. Soak the tea
bags in water for 10 minutes. Then, dip your feet in it and relax. Green
tea will destroy all the bacteria, which causes foul smell.
8. Salt:
Take some kosher salt and add it in the lukewarm water. Soak your feet in it.
Then, let your feet to dry naturally.
9. Vinegar:
Soak your feet in vinegar water. Add a small quantity of vinegar in lukewarm
water, and soak your feet in it for as many minutes as you want.
10. Baby Powder:
Sprinkle some baby powder in your shoes. This will keep your feet dry for a
very long time.
11. Zinc:
Zinc is helpful in eliminating foot odour. Therefore, consume zinc-containing
supplements, like apple.
12. Foot Relaxer:
Take ½ cup of peroxide, your favorite body wash, and ½ cup of baking soda. Mix
them all in a tub full of lukewarm water and put your feet in it. Soak for 15
minutes. Then, rub your feet using a pumice stone. Pumice stone will remove the
dead skin. Pat dry after you are done.
13.
Listerine Mouthwash: Add a few drops of Listerine mouthwash in
lukewarm water and soak your feet in it. Listerine works as a bacteria killer.
This will freshen out your feet.
14.
Lavender Oil: Soak your feet in lukewarm water with a few drops of
lavender oil in it. This will make your feet smell great, and will also kill
the bacteria. You can also rub a few drops of lavender oil on your feet.
15.
Ginger Ointment: Take fresh ginger and make a puree out of it. Take 1 cup
of hot boiling water and add this ginger puree in it. Strain the ginger water
after 10 minutes. You will get a thick ointment like substance; rub it on your
feet before going to bed. Do this for a couple of days. You will see the
difference.
16. Cloves:
Put some cloves in your footwear. This remedy will keep your feet fresh.
17. Sugar:
Mix together isopropyl alcohol, sugar and water. Make sure, you have sand like
thick consistency. Soak your feet for 10 minutes in lukewarm water. Then, apply
the sugar scrub on your feet and rub roughly. Sugar scrub will remove the dead
skin and alcohol will destroy the bacteria.
18. Vicks:
Rub Vicks on the surface of a bucket or tub and pour hot water in it. Soak your
feet in the vicks water for 10 minutes. After that, pat dry and apply baby
powder to your feet, thoroughly. Repeat this once a week.
19. Hand Sanitizer:
Apply hand sanitizer on your feet. This will also kill the bad odour.
20. Neosporin:
Take Neosporin on your palms and rub on your feet like a moisturiser. Then,
wear your socks and leave it overnight. In the morning, your feet will look
fresh, and the odour will be gone.
21. Deodorant: Put
some deodorant in your socks and shoes. Though, this is a temporary
solution, but works great.
22.
Pumice Stone: Rub pumice stone on your feet, every day, while taking a
shower. This will exfoliate the dead skin, thereby preventing the bacterial
growth and foot odour.
23. Tea
Tree Oil: Take a few drops of tea tree oil and rub it on your feet, every
night and every morning, and wear socks. Tea tree oil will kill the infection,
leaving odorless feet. You can also use tea tree oil containing products.
24. Lemon
Tea Bags: Take 3 lemon tea bags and soak them in warm water. Soak your feet
in this water for 15 minutes and wash it off. Apply a regular moisturizers. Wear
your socks and leave it overnight. Lemon will destroy the bacteria and moisturizers
will moisten the skin of your feet.
26. Oatmeal:
Take oatmeal and soak it in warm water. After soaking, oats will
become soft. Rub it on your feet like a scrub. Wash it with lukewarm water,
afterwards. Pat dry, apply a moisturizer and wear socks.
27. Epsom
Salt: Take 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt and mix it in a bucket, half filled
with lukewarm water. Put your feet in it for 15 minutes and then, pat dry.
28. Borax
Solution: Sprinkle borax powder in your shoes and wait till the powder
seems to disappear. Borax will prevent the bacteria to form, and your feet
won’t be sweaty till the powder lasts.
29. Sage:
Take few fresh sage leaves and put it in your shoes. This will freshen up the
feet and reduce the amount of sweat.
30. Apple
Cider Vinegar (ACV): Take ½ cup of apple cider vinegar and mix it in
lukewarm water. Soak your feet in ACV water for 10 minutes and then, wash it
off with warm water. Pat dry and apply any talcum powder and wear socks.
31. Vodka:
Soak your feet in vodka. Vodka will kill any kind of bacteria and infection.
32. Jell-O:
Take lemon Jell-O and mix it in warm water. Soak your feet until the Jell-O
begins to set. Then, rinse off your feet with any soap, thoroughly. Pat dry and
apply moisturizers.
33.
Vegetable Oil: Take a few drops of vegetable oil in your palms and rub it
well on your feet and wear socks.
34. Vaseline: Soak
your feet in warm water for 10-15 minutes, and clean with pumice stone. Dry
thoroughly and apply Vaseline on your feet. Wear socks. Leave it overnight.
Vaseline will soften your skin and prevent the growth of bacteria.
35. Alum:
Alum has antiseptic and astringent properties. Mix a tsp of alum powder in a
cup of warm water. Use it to wash your feet. Then, sprinkle some alum powder on
them. Practice it at least once a day.
REMEMBER
Maintaining
a balanced diet can help to reduce stinky feet by limiting the amount of sulfides
and other odor compounds that the body takes in. An evenly distributed
meal of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables are highly recommended not only
to reduce stinky feet, but for overall health as well.