3 Causes of Stinky Feet
Your feet each contain thousands of sweat glands, and while the sweat itself is not the actual cause of strong foot odors, keeping your feet clean and dry goes a long way to combating this common ailment. This is because the microbes that produce the offensive smell of conditions like athlete’s foot love the warm, moist environment that is often found inside your shoes. Switch your shoes every day so they can dry out and use medicated spray or powder to kill any lingering microbes.
3 causes of stinky feet include the following:
Excessive sweating—Some people are prone to a condition called hyperhidrosis which causes extreme sweating under the arms, on the palms, and the soles of the feet. Since odor-producing microbes thrive in moist environments, having excessively sweaty feet leads to more pronounced foot odor. Washing your feet regularly and using moisture-absorbing powder in your footwear can help.
Skin infections—Microbes that cause athlete's foot and bacterial infections often produce a disgusting smell.
Toenail fungus—This condition can cause discoloration and brittleness of the toenails, with offensive odor often caused by the fungi as they feed under your toenails. Topical and oral medications used in tandem are often effective at treating toenail fungus.
Keeping your feet clean and dry will eliminate many possible sources of foot odor, but if you have foot odor that doesn’t subside, see your foot doctor to determine the underlying cause. At E.J. Nemet Podiatry in Twinsburg, E.J. Nemet, DPM, treats a variety of foot and ankle conditions, including sports injuries, pediatric foot problems, diabetic foot complications, nerve disorders, and toenail and skin conditions. With advanced technologies and dedicated staff, Dr. Nemet provides expert and compassionate care to patients in the Twinsburg and Beachwood areas. To contact us or to schedule an appointment, please call (234) 212-9940.