Getting Rid of Embarrassing Foot Odor

28 Nov Getting Rid of Embarrassing Foot Odor

In the heat of summer, your feet were naturally sweating more, which seemed a plausible reason for foot odor. Now that the cooler weather is here, you’re wondering why your feet are still sweating and still stinky! At Great Neck Family Foot Care, foot odor is one of the more common problems we treat. Foot odor is actually caused by either bacteria or fungus that can grow in your shoes and then attaches itself to your skin. Some bacteria eat away the top layer of your skin and that produces the bad smell.

Who’s At Risk?

Believe it or not, the average person has about 250,000 sweat glands. But some people have even more than that which results in excess perspiration, or a condition known as Hyperhidorsis, and foot odor. There are other causes of foot odor besides excess sweat. Certain medications can cause feet to give off a bad smell as can using drugs or alcohol. People who are under stress and those going through hormonal changes (such as during puberty or menopause) are also more prone to foot odor.

Treatment and Prevention

The first step to getting rid of foot odor is to schedule an examination at our Great Neck office with one of our board certified podiatrists, Dr. Alec Hochstein or Dr. Diana Gagliano. The foot doctor will take a complete medical history and look for the cause of the foot odor. Foot odor treatments usually consist of powders, creams, or ointments, both over-the-counter and prescription strength. In extreme cases, the podiatrist may utilize a treatment that passes a mild electric current through the skin to eliminate perspiration for a limited period of time. Here are a few tips on preventing or greatly reducing foot odor:

• Wash feet with soap and water daily
• Wear socks and shoes made of breathable material and don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day
• Use baking soda or a disinfecting spray inside your shoes to kill bacteria
• Turn socks inside out before washing to get rid of dead skin flakes

To put an end to embarrassing foot odor, contact our office today. For patients that are unable to come to the office, Great Neck Family Foot Care now offers house calls. For more information, call (516) 482-5999.