Do you see people’s faces screw up when you kick off your shoes? Or does your pet dog love nothing more than having a good old sniff at your trainers because they smell so rancid? If the answer to either of these is yes, then read on.
Feet are the natural habitat of millions of bacteria which thrive on your sweat and shed skin cells, by-products produced by these bacteria is what gives your feet that horrible smell. There are many ways in which you can help reduce and control your foot odour, some of these methods are listed below.
Antiperspirant
Did you know that you can use the same deodorant which you use under your armpits on your feet too? If you use an antiperspirant spray just give your feet a gentle spray before putting your socks on. If you use a roll on, simply roll the deodorant onto the base of each foot; allow to dry before putting socks or shoes on.
Washing your feet
If you are suffering from terrible foot odour frequently, invest in a good antibacterial or deodorant soap, and wash your feet every day in warm water using this product. After washing your feet, always make sure they are 100% dry before putting them into nice clean socks or shoes; failing to do so could result in athlete’s foot, or even a nail fungus which is not pretty.
Using talcum powder or foot powder before you put on your shoes and socks can help absorb odour causing sweat. A couple of other powders which people say work and neutralize odours are cornflour and bicarbonate of soda.
Be kind to your feet
If you are the type of person who only changes their socks once or twice a week, then change your habit immediately!
Here are some tips to give your feet a lift:
- Always wear a fresh pair of socks on each day, or maybe even two if your feet are prone to sweating.
- Try to alternate between at least two pairs of shoes each day, that way if one starts to feel like it’s becoming a little sweaty, you can let them air, whilst wearing the other pair of shoes.
- If you wear cotton socks rather than nylon for example your feet will be able to breathe better because cotton is a natural fibre.
- If possible wear open sandals or trainers or shoes with mesh sides as these will allow air to get to your feet and let them breathe.
- If you do have a pair of old smelly shoes or slippers that have seen better days and they can’t be washed, throw them away, and replace with fresh clean ones.
- Many trainers can be placed in the washing machine, so check the manufacturers label first and if they can, throw them in!
Most pharmacy stores stock a large range of foot odour products, so don’t just buy the first one you see, have a good read of each one to see which one is suitable for your own personal needs. A good tip is to look out for odour-absorbing insoles. These insoles contain activated charcoal and you can cut them to fit your shoes or trainers.