A smelly foot is a condition in which an unpleasant smell emerges from a human foot due to long-term sweating. Wet feet provide an atmosphere for developing bacteria that break down the sweat particles as soon as they come out of the pores. This decomposition leads to a foul smell, commonly known as smelly feet or bromodosis.
The smell that comes out of stinky feet is a thick odor that sometimes smells like cheese, vinegar, and ammonia. Brevibacterium is responsible for the foul smell. Thus, the smell is not created because of the sweat; it is created as the bacteria begin to grow in the salty secretion, break the sweat particles, decompose them, and accumulate foul smell.
What Causes Smelly Feet?
The answer is as simple as the question! Sweat from the feet is the leading cause of smelly feet. The sweat that hides behind the skin’s pores is smell-less, but its scent can be felt when bacteria decompose. The bacteria that break the sweat are usually found in the human skin as part of the human flora. The front part of the foot contains more pores, so it generates more sweat. If the sweat is not allowed to dissolve, the growth of the bacteria causes bacteria feet.
It’s common for some people to sweat more than others.
Factors that may increase your chances of getting smelly feet are:
- Excessive sweat production
- Growth of bacteria.
- Athlete’s foot.
- Changes in the hormones.
- Poor hygiene of the person.
- Wear the same pair of socks and shoes daily.
- If you slip your feet into shoes and socks that are still wet with sweat
- The lack of proper ventilation of the shoes
10 Hacks for Smelly Feet
A few quick and easy hacks can help you get rid of the smelly feet. These smelly feet hacks are easily available and give the best result.
1. Wash your feet every day to get rid of the smell
Even if you don’t have a shower or a bath every day, take the time to wash your feet with warm soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean, dry towel. Make sure you’re clean between your toes, where bacteria like to grow.
2. Exfoliate
Exfoliate is a method of removing dead skin from the body, using a pumice stone to rub the feet and remove the dead skin so that no bacteria can feed on them. Repeat the procedure 2-3 days a week.
3. Try Baking Soda for Bromodosis
Baking soda will help keep the feet from sweating unnecessarily and absorb a smelly odor.
What you’ve to do:
- Apply one-fourth cup of baking soda to a plastic tub.
- Fill your tub with water.
- Allow the soda to dissolve entirely.
- Soak your feet in a baking soda bath for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove your feet from the bath.
- Pat your skin dry.
4. Brew some tea for your feet
Tannins in tea leaves eradicate bacteria and minimize sweating. You can have baths like that every day.
What you have to do:
- Brew 3 tsp of tea in 1 liter of hot water.
- Add 2 liters of cold water.
- Put the feet in for 15-30 minutes.
5. Salt Water
Salt has antibacterial effects that can help to prevent bacterial growth on your feet.
What you’ve to do:
- Add a tablespoon of salt to two or three cups of hot water.
- Mix until the salt dissolves completely.
- Move the solution to a plastic tub or basin.
- Soak your feet in a mixture for 10-15 minutes.
- Pat dry your feet
6. Apple cider vinegar for bromodosis
The antibacterial agents of apple cider vinegar can help inhibit bacterial growth in your feet. Which lets you get rid of the foul smell in your feet.
What you’ve to do:
- Mix 0.5 liter of vinegar with 200 ml of warm water.
- Soak a piece of gauze in this solution and apply it to your feet for 20 minutes.
- Let the skin dry naturally.
It would be best if you did this once a day.
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon is antibacterial and has deodorizing properties due to its pleasing smell, which can help hold the foot smell at bay.
How to use:
- Squeeze the juice from two lemons.
- Mix the lemon juice with two cups of hot water.
- Soak your feet in a mixture for 5-10 minutes.
- Pat dry your skin.
You should do this once a day, preferably before you put your shoe on.
8. Use aromatherapy oils
Essential oils in lemongrass, eucalyptus, peppermint, and orange have antimicrobial effects. These oils eliminate bacteria and fungi that cause smelly feet and give a good smell.
Lavender oil is going to be perfect. Apart from concealing the smell, it also has a bactericidal effect:
How to use:
- Fill a plastic tub with water.
- Add 10 drops of each of the essential oils mentioned above.
- Blend well and soak the feet in the tub for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove your feet from the tub and dry your skin.
You can do this once a day.
9. Coconut oil
Coconut oil can help keep the feet moist and free of bacteria due to its emollient and antimicrobial properties. Inhibiting bacterial growth also helps to prevent your feet from smelling bad.
How to use:
- Take some virgin coconut oil in your hands,
- Massage it on your feet.
- Just leave it on the night.
- Clean it off the next morning.
You should do this once a day.
10. Listerine
Listerine contains essential oils, such as menthol, thymol, and eucalyptol, which have antibacterial potential. It will help you get rid of the foul odor of your feet.
What you’ve to do:
- Add half a cup of Listerine to one and a half cups of water.
- Blend well and transfer the mixture to a plastic tub.
- Soak your feet in a mixture for 10-15 minutes.
- Pat dry your feet.
You should do this 1-2 times a day, preferably just before you put your shoes on.
Prevention Tips for Smelly Feet
Sweating is a common phenomenon of the body that can not be prevented but can be avoided. Go through these few tips that will help keep the foot from sweating.
- After bathing, correctly dab the area between the toes to prevent the foot’s smell as the area’s maximum number of pores is present.
- Use a detachable insole so that you can change it regularly to avoid smelly feet.
- Spray antiperspirant in the feet
- Apply talcum powder before wearing shoes.
- Don’t wear tight shoes.
- Wear fresh socks every day or select socks that allow maximum air circulation.
- Leather or leather pairs of shoes are better in summer or choose to wear open-toed shoes.
- Use antibacterial soaps.
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