Goodbye stinky feet!

Foot odour is definitely an embarrassing problem that can cause interpersonal troubles. mDhil tells you how to put your best foot forward.

Don't let them stink!

You shower daily, wear fresh clothes and make sure you change your socks every day, but your feet still stink when you take off your shoes. Foot odour, as it’s called, is a worrisome problem, that has little to do with personal hygiene. The culprit is bacteria that multiply under excess sweat.

How to treat foot odour

Here are some ways you can do away with that nasty smell.

Let your feet breath: The most common cause for smelly feet is accumulated sweat — a fertile breeding ground for bacteria. If you can, try and ventilate your feet by removing your shoes and socks every couple hours. If you can, why not skip the shoes and wear sandals!

Wash and soak: Salt, black tea and vinegar – are astringents that will help reduce moisture in the skin. Washing and soaking your feet in them will cut moisture, reducing sweating and thus your chances of smelly feet!

Show sun to your shoes: Airing out only your feet won’t work. You have to dry out your shoes as well. Your clean, dry feet will serve no purpose if you stick them back inside sweaty and damp shoes. So make sure you dry them out regularly.

Get enough zinc: Studies have suggested that not getting sufficient zinc in the diet can also lead to foul foot odour. Either add foods that are rich in zinc into your diet, options would include: peanuts, oysters, and wheat germ or take supplements. The smell might just go away.

Wear moisture-smart socks: Socks with this feature can save a lot of embarrassment for victims of foot odour. Moisture-smart socks let your feet breathe, thus keeping it dry. All leading brands of footwear sell such socks these days.

Use foot deodorisers: Use foot deodorisers to mask the unpleasant odour. Several of them are available over-the-counter, so take your pick.

Use a shoe deodoriser on the insides of the shoes as well. Powder deodorisers are available for this purpose. Corn starch and baking soda, which are easily available at home, work well too.

You could also try any regular deodorant or anti-perspirant on your feet. The odour should diminish instantly, albeit temporarily.

Benzoyl peroxide: Applying a 5 or 10% solution of benzoyl peroxide gel will kill bacteria and help decrease odour.

Wash feet with anti-bacterial soap: This is perhaps the simplest thing to do. Wash your feet about a couple times during the day with some antibacterial soap.

Photograph via sxc.hu

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