Having feet that are sweaty and smell terrible is not very pleasant for you or the people around you. It can make you wary of your condition and it can also be quite difficult to treat. So just what exactly causes your feet to smell the way they do and what can you do to stop the problem?


What causes feet to smell?

Your feet are likely to smell because they have been put into a sock for instance and then they have been put into a shoe. And if you have gone to work, there is very little opportunity for your feet to breathe until you remove your shoes and socks when you get back home. So your feet are hidden for most part of the day.

So when your feet are in shoes, there is a natural build of bacteria, and given that we sweat naturally, that combination is what makes feet smell. The feet have about 3000 sweat glands and they are constantly producing sweat and that is something that is quite hard to actually stop.

You may not believe it but your hands sweat just as much as feet, but there is a difference. Your hands are constantly exposed and any sweat that is produced is simply evaporated.

You also need to think about the temperature inside your shoes also. If you go jogging, the temperature inside your shoes is going to get quite hot, so you are exposing your feet to some high temperatures, so for them to sweat is quite natural and normal. This heat on the other hand is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, so you can see the reasons that make your feet smell.

Men seem to have feet that smell more than women generally because men do sweat more. Also, women do tend to take more care of themselves compared to men.


How to deal with feet that smell?

If you take into account that you feet spend the vast majority of their lives in shoes and trainers, the best thing that you can do is make sure that you shoes and trainers are kept as clean as possible. This includes the inside of your shoe also. There are a number of products that are available for helping to clean the inside of shoes and trainers, and you should do this on a frequent basis.

If you have shoes or trainers that can be washed, then wash them but make sure you give enough time to allow the trainers to dry as you do not want to be wearing trainers that are damp as this could lead to other problems.

Also make sure that you change your socks on a frequent basis especially if you have been running or power walking as you do not want to be wearing socks that are smelly. Also, when you shower, make sure that you apply soap to your feet and that you give them a good wash, just like you would with your arm pits. This will help to keep your feet feeling and smelling fresh.