5 Reasons Why Your Feet Smell

Both hormonal changes and stress can make you sweat more than necessary and your feet smell. We tell you more reasons why the bad smell appears and some tips to eliminate it.

Do you think your feet smell? Normally, this situation tends to cause a lot of embarrassment. In fact, it is possible that the first thing that comes to mind is that it is due to poor hygiene. However, There are also other reasons why the bad smell could appear in this area of ​​the body.

The important thing is to detect the problem and take the necessary measures to solve it. In this article, we give you 5 reasons why feet usually smell.  Read on and find out what they are!

Why do feet smell?

1. Excess sweat

The first of the reasons why your feet could smell is because they are sweating more than normal. This can be from a problem called plantar hyperhidrosis.

If you are not careful to clean and dry your feet properly, the humidity and dirt d facilitate the proliferation of bacteria and bad odor.

The best solution to this problem is to keep your feet clean and dry. Even the most strict people with their hygiene could find themselves in this situation if they do not do it the right way.

Try these tips:

• Change your socks when you’ve sweated too much. If you go out to exercise or have spent all morning walking, your feet are probably sweaty. At the first opportunity, swap your socks for clean, dry ones.
• Use talcum powder or a natural deodorant to slow down the effects of sweat. If the workday forces you to walk many hours, or you cannot change your socks, apply talcum powder. This absorbs sweat for several hours. You can take a small bottle and apply a little every 3-4 hours as needed.
• Wear shoes with good ventilation. More and more shoe brands are thinking about this problem, so you could look for shoes that facilitate air flow. We recommend wearing this kind of shoe whenever you can.

2. Stress

Surely you did not imagine that stress could be one of the reasons why your feet smell. Apparently, when a person is stressed or worried, they may sweat more. In fact, in a recent study it has been found that psychological stimuli affect the level of sweating of people.

If you’ve been worrying about something these days, find ways to manage this state of mind, and perhaps this will help calm the problem. For now, a little extra powder won’t hurt either. 

3. Hormonal disorder

It is said that l as changes in hormone levels can alter the production of sweat. Therefore, it is not uncommon for pregnant, menopausal or adolescent women to present this problem. S If you think that one of these is your case, it is advisable to go to your doctor to find the appropriate treatment.

4. Athlete’s foot

Some situations of humidity and heat to which the feet are subjected, can give rise to the uncomfortable athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that usually begins between the toes, and can spread through floors, towels or the clothes.

In this case, you can try the following:

• Apply an antifungal cream. If you are not sure which one to use, you can ask your doctor. The usual recommendation is to use this cream every day in the morning and at night after washing your feet for two weeks, but in any case it is always better to consult a specialist.
• Avoid being barefoot in public places. In the gym, the pool and any other common area, always try to wear sandals, tennis shoes or shoes. This will help you avoid contact with fungi and bacteria.
• Do not share shoes. Think that your shoes are an item of personal use and, when loaning them, they could be fungal transmitters.

5. Poor quality footwear

Do you notice that the bad smell appears if you wear a certain pair of shoes? This is another reason why feet smell: the quality of the shoes.  

The reality is that, sometimes, the economy and fashion can make you choose badly. If you buy shoes thinking only of price, you may find that some of them prevent proper oxygenation and promote the growth of bacteria. Therefore, try to look for natural leather shoes. T your feet will appreciate it.

When to go to the doctor?

Now that we’ve given you 5 reasons why your feet smell, it’s time to get down to business. However, if you see that after trying these tips the bad smell persists, it is important to go to the podiatrist to identify the particular reason and make the necessary decisions to combat the problem.