Stinky Feet

Stinky feet — called bromodosis in the medical world — is a condition usually caused by foot sweat.

Causes

Your feet have more sweat glands than any other part on your body (250,000 per pair) and they excrete an average of a half a pint of sweat each day. This moisture serves as a perfect breeding ground for bacteria that feed off the sweat and create the noxious fumes that stink up your socks and shoes.

Anyone can get sweaty feet, but the most common culprits are anxiety, stress, hormonal changes, not allowing your feet to breath, being on your feet all day and plantar hyperhidrosis (a condition in which you have excessive foot sweat). Poor hygiene can also cause stinky feet, as not washing your feet or changing your socks every day allows bacteria to thrive.

Treatments

To combat bromodosis, podiatrists recommend washing, drying and moisturizing your feet every day. Keep your toenails properly trimmed and scrubbed and make sure to slough off dead skin (which bacteria particularly loves to eat) with foot soaks and a pumice stone. Additionally, it’s important to wear moisture wicking socks that you change at least once per day and try to alternate between wearing different pairs of shoes each day.

If these simple hygiene steps don’t work, you can try an antifungal foot spray, medicated shoe insoles, special bacteria-killing foot soaks or rolling or spraying an antiperspirant on the soles of your feet.