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Smelly feet: An Awkward Situation How often do you find your feet stinking? When you open your shoes, do you get a foul smell? Does your feet sweat a lot? Innumerable questions may pop up in your mind when you think about smelly feet. It isn t attractive in any means. It s uncomfortable and for some, it s even a prestige issue. Anyone can suffer from smelly feet, also called Bromodosis. The major cause behind this is sweaty feet. 2
Why do feet smell? Have you come across someone, at some time, whose smelly feet might have made you feel nauseous? You must have felt disgusted, right? Imagine, someone reacting in the similar manner when your feet are smelling. So it s better to know first about the cause of your stinking feet so that you can work out the solution. Sweat: Smelly feet is caused when bacteria present on the skin disintegrates the sweat coming out from the pores. When the sweat decomposes, a cheesy odour is released which tickles your nostrils. Stinking shoes: Feet become smelly when sweat soaks into your shoes and they don't dry up before you wear them again. 3
Bad personal hygiene: Do you often cleanse your feet? If not, then it s high time to keep a check on your personal hygiene. Stress: Like on many other things, stress has its effect on your sweats also. Excessive stress can make your feet stink. Hormonal fluctuations: Teenagers and pregnant women are likely to have smelly feet due to hormonal changes in the body. Hyperhidrosis: If you sweat more than usual, you might be suffering from hyperhidrosis. This can also cause your feet to smell. Health and medicines: Athlete s Foot is a skin infection which can cause your feet to stink. Some diseases and medications can also cause fetid feet. If, you suffer from diabetes or heart disease, then you may be prone to suffer from smelly feet. People with age also tend to have smelly feet. Outside factors: Harsh environments and wearing poor quality shoes can also cause foul-smelling feet. 4
Solve the problem of foot odour Having smelly feet is no doubt embarrassing, but finding the solutions is not an uphill task either. There are numerous solutions to this condition. Just pick any one from the list given below to free yourself from foot odour. Sprinkle some sodium bicarbonate: Dust your feet with Sodi bicarb. This absorbs moisture and keeps feet dry, thus neutralizing odour. Use essential oils: You can add few drops of essential oil to the powder of your choice and use it to reduce smelly feet. Keep shoes fresh with Peppermint: Peppermint oil possesses antibacterial and antimicrobial characteristics, which help to cure the bad odour of your feet. Drench cotton balls with few drops of peppermint oil and put these in your shoes overnight. This will keep shoes fresh. 5
Goodness of Epsom salt: Soak your feet in a mixture of Epsom salt and warm water twice a day for 15 minutes. This reduces sweating and kills bacteria, thus reducing the bad smell of your feet. Lavender oil: It not only smells good but also helps in killing odour causing bacteria, leaving your feet odour free. Benefits of black tea: Footbath with black tea gives you odour free feet. Vinegar nourishment: Soak your feet in a mixture of vinegar and warm water. This kills odourcausing bacteria and reduces smell. Surgical spirit: Dip cotton wool in surgical spirit and dab between the toes after washing feet. This gives amazing results. Fragrance of cedar chips: Every time you put your shoes away, place a sachet filled with cedar chips. They help in keeping shoes dry by absorbing moisture and embarrassing odour. 6
Make some efforts. What can that be? Prevention is better than cure. You must have heard this so many times since childhood. It s time to apply the same to get rid of evil-smelling feet. Take a note of these prevention methods. Develop good habits: After a bath blow dry your feet with a hair dryer set at a low temperature. Make this a regular habit to dry off the water left in between the fingers of your foot as dampness can cause smelly feet. Good personal hygiene: Wash and dry your feet thoroughly every day and wear clean socks, preferably, cotton or woollen ones. This helps to prevent foul-smelling feet. Choice of shoes: Avoid wearing closed shoes whenever you can. Wear leather or canvas shoes or open-toed sandals. Don t wear the same shoes for 2 days in a row. 7
Foot spray: Use an antiperspirant on your feet to prevent feet from stinking. Perfumed, medicated insoles: Put detachable medicated insoles in your shoes which have a deodorizing effect and prevent foul smell. Choice of socks: Wear foot-fresh socks infused with chemicals that discourage the bacteria to break down sweat and cause smelly feet. Alternatively wear socks with ventilating panels that help in keeping your feet dry. Storing and caring: Store your shoes in a ventilated place and follow the instructions given to take better care of them. Stay barefoot at home: This is the best prevention method. When at home, pad around barefoot, to have healthy feet. Visit a doctor: If none of these measures helps then the root of the problem might lie elsewhere. Do see a doctor to find out any hidden illnesses that could possible cause you smelly feet. 8
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