Foot odor: The best tips & tricks

foot odor
The best tips against sweaty feet and Co.

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Simone Kalus

Foot odor is a common problem. The cause is often sweaty feet. From baking soda to foot powder: we’ll explain what you can do about the unpleasant stuffiness.

Main cause of foot odor

Anyone who spends the whole day in closed shoes and thick socks knows the problem: cheese feet to the power of ten – plus foot odor. This not only causes heat to build up and little air circulation, but also sweaty feet. Sweating is a completely natural reaction and serves to regulate the body’s temperature. As soon as the Sweat production, however, becomes stronger than necessary for temperature regulation, one speaks ofhyperhidrosis. The approximately 500 sweat glands per centimeter of skin secrete more than 50 milligrams of secretion.

Sweat is one of the main causes of foot odor. Sweat itself smells neutral. It consists of 99 percent water. Only one percent contains salts, ureas, amino and lactic acids. Only when Bacteria break down sweat, producing butyric acidcreates a bad foot odor.

Other causes of foot odor

Besides sweat, there are other reasons for smelly feet:

The 7 best home remedies for foot odor

  1. lavender oil not only helps you fall asleep, but also proves to be a good home remedy for smelly feet. It kills bacteria and helps control odor.
  2. Ginger ensures that bacteria cannot multiply and reduces foot odor. To do this, pour a tea with fresh ginger, let it cool down and rub your feet with the cold tea in the evening. Repeat daily for a week.
  3. Also baking soda helps prevent the unpleasant smell. A foot bath is best for this. That’s how it’s done: Put two tablespoons of baking soda in about two liters of lukewarm water and bathe your feet in the mixture for half an hour. Repeat the baking soda bath daily until the smell is gone. Dry your feet well between your toes after bathing. Otherwise there is an increased risk of athlete’s foot.
  4. Another good home remedy for excessive foot sweat is baking powder. It lowers the pH and kills bacteria. It is best to soak your feet in a footbath made of water and two to three tablespoons of baking soda for half an hour.
  5. Similar to baking soda neutralizes Apple Cider Vinegar the pH, inhibits the production of bacteria and helps to reduce odor. To do this, mix half a cup of vinegar with two liters of water and bathe your feet in it for about 20 minutes. Wash thoroughly with soap. You can read here what else apple cider vinegar can do for the skin.
  6. sage has an antiseptic effect against bacteria, viruses and fungi and helps to reduce the production of sweat glands. The home remedy unfolds its effect as a tea or foot bath.
  7. Black tea is also good for sweaty feet. Like ginger, it kills bacteria. That’s how it’s done: Boil two liters of water and steep five bags of black tea in it. Soak your feet in it for about 20 minutes and dry well!

Prevent foot odor – you have to pay attention to that

  • Always pay attention to good foot hygiene and the Wash feet regularly. It is best to use a washcloth to gently exfoliate the skin and remove any bacteria. This is the only way to stop the development of stinky sweaty feet.
  • When buying shoes, be sure to look for models that are not too tight and a breathable material such as leather, so that your feet don’t start sweating in the first place. Shoes made of cheap plastic only promote sweat production and thus the development of foot odor.
  • It is also important to Disinfect shoes once a week. This kills bacteria responsible for foot odor. To do this, spray the shoes with disinfectant and let them dry.
  • Avoid synthetic socksthat make your feet sweat and also cannot absorb foot sweat. Better: Thin cotton socks or socks with silver ions that inhibit the growth of bacteria. Very important: wash the socks regularly at 60 degrees.
  • Also insoles help against foot odor. It is better to use models made of leather, which can absorb foot sweat better.
  • After a relaxing foot bath, for example with lavender or baking soda, treat your feet with a Cream with aluminum chloride rub in This contracts the sweat glands. Here’s a do-it-yourself foot bath.
  • A Foot deodorant with aluminum chlorideor alcohol Foot sweat and aluminum-free deodorants at least reduce the foot odor that has already developed.
  • Another remedy for sweaty feet is foot powder. This absorbs foot sweat. Important: Distribute between the toes.

Excessive foot odor? A visit to the doctor will clarify

If our tips don’t help, we recommend one for you to see a doctor. He can determine the causes of foot odor and Treat hyperhidrosis with Botox, for example.

For everyone who doesn’t just sweat their feet, here are the best tips against sweating and body odor. And so you avoid sweaty hands.

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