Foot odor is not only embarrassing but also uncomfortable. But once you understand the problem, you can take measures to reduce foot odor.
What are the causes of foot odor?
Feet smell for two reasons: The shoes you wear or your feet are sweaty. . This; It is the smell produced by the bacteria in your shoes and socks by interacting with your sweat and bacteria. Thus, attempting to reduce footodor will lead you to footsweat and footwear. The feet and hands contain more sweat glands than any other part of the body (about 3,000 glands per square inch) and provide a ready supply of sweating. Chances are, this is a familial phenomenon with you; You have sweaty palms, but the sweat on your hands does not produce the same strong odor as on your feet. The reason for this is that your hands come into contact with the air and the sweat on your hands has the chance to evaporate and fly away.
Thus, your feet are trapped in your shoes, the temperature of which easily rises up to 102 F. The combination of sweat and humidity in a dark and warm environment paves the way for increased growth of bacteria that normally live on our skin. Bacteria produce isovaleric acid, a substance associated withfootodor. More moisture causes more bacteria to multiply rapidly and produce more odor. Another cause of foot odor is a condition that primarily affects men, called hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, which is inherited from the family. Stress, some medications, fluid intake and hormonal changes also increase the amount of sweat your body produces.
Preventing foot odor
Fortunately, there are generally few preventive measures against foot odor. can be controlled by precautions. The American Orthopedic Foot and AnkleAssociation recommends the following:
1-To keep bacteria levels to a minimum, make good foothygiene a habit. Every day Wash your feet in warm water using a medium-hard soap. Dry thoroughly.
- Change your socks and shoes at the end of the day. Do not frequently medicate your feet. Powder with a free baby powder or foot powder. Applying an antibacterial ointment may also help.
- Check between your toes and on the sole of your feet for fungal infections.
- If you see redness or dry, peeling skin, apply the correct treatment.
2- Wear thick socks, soft socks help draw moisture from the feet. Socks made of cotton or other absorbent materials are best.
3- Avoid wearing Nylon socks and Plastic shoes. Instead, wear shoes made of leather, canvas, mesh or other materials that allow your feet to breathe. 4- Do not wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days. If you wear athletic shoes frequently, change them so that the shoes have time to dry. Ventilate for 24 hours between wearings; If the smell does not disappear, throw away the shoes.
5- Always wear your socks with closed shoes.
These protective measures can be helpful in protecting the feet of athletes who share the same environment and air, as well as sweaty feet. Somehow, athletes' feet do not respond to antibacterial agents because they develop fungal infections. The use of an antifungal powder and good foothygiene are sufficient to treat athlete's foot.
Treatment of foot odor
Persistent footodor indicates a low-grade infection or severe familial (hereditary) sweating. In these cases, your doctor may recommend a special ointment. Apply this ointment to your feet at bedtime and then wrap your feet with an impermeable plastic cover.
It will help to soak your feet thoroughly with strong black tea for 30 minutes a day for a week. The tannic acid in the tea kills bacteria and closes the pores in the skin, keeping your feet dry for longer. Put 2 tea bags in every half kilo of water, boil for 15 minutes, then add two quarters of cold water. Soak your feet thoroughly with this cool solution. Alternatively, soak your feet thoroughly with a solution prepared from one part vinegar and two parts water.
Electrolysis is a process known as Iontophoresis. It can also reduce excessive sweating of the foot. However, this method requires special equipment and training. In many severe cases of hyperhidrosis, the surgeon may cut the nerve that controls sweating. With the newly developing technology, this surgery is performed much safer. However, from now on, you should observe that the sweating in other parts of the body is compensated. (trans. note: sweating may increase in other areas.)
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