Nobody likes foot odor and it can be amplified with the introduction of vigorous exercise.
Foot odor is not pleasant and people who are more prone to it are runners, athletes and even teenagers. Smelly feet are caused by a range of sources and there are a number of ways that it can be prevented. If you are wearing the incorrect footwear and socks, your feet are not getting a sufficient amount of air and this causes them to sweat. The feet are the sweatiest parts of the body and they sweat throughout the day regardless if you are engaging in physical activity or not. This article will explain what causes foot odor and how it can be stopped for good.
Causes
As just mentioned, foot odor and smelly feet are the results of excess sweat in the feet. The feet sweat throughout the day and have the highest density of glands when compared to any part of the body. As a result, when they are put under heat and pressure they will sweat more and this is increased through incorrect footwear. However, the sweat itself is not what causes the potent smell. When the feet sweat it mixes with the bacteria present on the foot and this is what causes the odor. The bacteria on the feet breaks down the sweat and this releases the cheesy smell often associated with foot odor.
There is a number of contributing factors that affect how smelly the feet get and some are correlated with factors that increase the sweat, like sports. One issue may be with your shoes and socks. Do not wear the same shoes every day especially if you are exercising. This goes for socks as well and you need to make sure that you are wearing the correct socks when you exercise. Socks that you should be wearing include compression socks and men’s compression socks are the same as women’s compression socks, so it doesn’t matter which ones you get. Hormone levels can also influence how smelly your feet can get, making teenagers and pregnant women more prone to having smelly feet. Furthermore, poor personal hygiene can lead to smelly feet.
Prevention
There are a bunch of ways to reduce the smell of your feet and they are relatively basic and straightforward. Firstly, you should not be wearing the same shoes every day and try to change them every two days. This goes for socks as well, try to change those every day. When you are performing a vigorous exercise, remember to wear either athletic toe socks or compression socks that are breathable and wicked so they do not catch as much moisture. Keep your personal hygiene high and wash your feet regularly. If you are very prone to sweat, try spraying your feet with deodorant or powering them with talcum powder to dry them out. FootGlove Performance Footwear makes a specific sock that is not only compression fit and wicked to reduce sweating but can also prevent foot odor. This is achieved through silver ion technology and it is relatively new in the field of sports socks.
Foot odor is a pain and everyone will suffer from it. The feet are the sweatiest body parts and have the highest concentration of glands. This means that they are prone to mixing with bacteria that promotes smells. Some people are more prone to smelly feet than others but through good hygiene and the proper socks, you will be able to prevent it.