What makes your feet smell and how can you fix it?

About 15% of us have very smelly feet. Photo / 123RF
At best it’s embarrassing, at worst it’s indicative of an underlying condition. Here are the main causes of stinky feet and what could help.
If you’ve ever had a visceral reaction from the odour that rises up when taking off your shoes, you’re not alone. About 15% of us have very smelly feet, a condition also known as bromodosis.
“There are a few different reasons you could be experiencing smelly feet,” explains Emma McConnachie, a spokesperson for the Royal College of Podiatry and a podiatrist based in Stirling, Scotland.
“Most cases are caused by a build-up of bacteria or fungal infections. There’s a chance it may be your shoes that are the pongy part, so have a sniff to see where the source of the smell is coming from to help get to the cause”.
If it’s definitely your feet and not your shoes producing the putrid scent, there are five likely causes. Here’s what you can do about each of them.
Your feet have around 250,000 sweat glands – that’s more sweat glands per centimetre than anywhere else on your body. Shoes and socks trap in the sweat, allowing bacteria to breed. As the bacteria feed on the dead skin cells and oils from your feet, it releases a noxious odour.
How to fix it
“Wash your feet every day with warm soapy water and dry your feet thoroughly including in between your toes,” McConnachie advises.
“This can be challenging with those who have difficulty reaching their feet, so a long-handled shower puff can be a great way to help you clean them safely when bathing. Using a sponge or puff to clean your feet can also help exfoliate away the dead skin that your body is trying to shed.”
McConnachie emphasises the right choice of shoes and socks. They need to be clean, dry and absorbent.
“Cotton, bamboo and merino wool are all excellent natural fibres that help the skin breathe. Those with sweatier feet often prefer bamboo or merino socks to help wick the moisture away from the skin,” she says. And if your socks are getting damp in the day, try changing into a fresh pair halfway through it.
Not wearing the same pair of shoes every day is crucial. “Allowing your shoes 24 to 48 hours to dry out before you wear them again will help reduce the bacterial build-up,” McConnachie explains.
“You can buy special moisture-absorbing insoles that go inside your shoes to help dry them out overnight which can be a big help for those who need to wear the same shoes every day. Saving the silica gel packets that come with your electrical devices and popping them inside an old pair of tights is a great way to make your own too.”
Also known as athlete’s foot, a fungal infection of the foot will affect around 70% of people at some point in their lives. It’s commonly caused by skin-to-skin contact or contact with a flake of skin, usually in shared areas such as saunas and locker rooms. It causes a stinging rash on the foot.
Fungal nail infections are also relatively common, affecting around one in 10 people – in both cases, as the fungus feeds off sweat, oil and dead skin, it produces an unpleasant odour that can be ‘cheesy’ or ‘yeasty’.
How to fix it
Athlete’s foot doesn’t go away on its own, but is treated with antifungal medicine which can be purchased from a pharmacy. Check which one is right for you by consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Bear in mind that fungal infections can be passed on by sharing towels, shoes and socks – so if you are infected make sure to keep these separate from people living with you.
It’s not your imagination: teenagers’ feet really do stink. Sweat glands all over the body are more active during puberty and they become triggered not only by exercise and heat, but also by emotions such as anxiety or nervousness.
Pregnant women are also more prone to smelly feet as more blood is pumped around their body, raising their body temperature throughout their pregnancy. This increase, paired with hormonal changes, leads to more sweat across the body.
However, about two-thirds of pregnant women experience a heightened sense of smell (hyperosmia) – so even if their feet aren’t sweating more than before, they may be more sensitive to the odour.
How to fix it
In both cases, it’s a case of managing general body sweat. If your teenager wears the same shoes to school every day, invest in two pairs and alternate them to allow time for the shoes to dry completely.
Pregnant women who experience foot swelling should wear shoes that provide more room for the skin to breathe.
If you find that your feet are very sweaty with other areas of the body, you may have a condition called hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. “This can make you produce more sweat than the average person, leading to rubbery and moist skin and smelly feet,” McConnachie says.
How to fix it
“Applying an antiperspirant to your feet daily can help. This might be the one you use for your underarms or a foot-specific one,” McConnachie suggests.
“If it doesn’t help then speak to your podiatrist or GP as there are a range of products and treatments that can help you.”
Although having smelly feet doesn’t indicate diabetes, those with the condition do need to take extra care with the condition of their feet. People with diabetes can develop foot ulcers or have unhealed foot ulcers that release an odour which is triggered by sweat and bacteria.
How to fix it
“If they have an active wound on the foot and there is an odour, it can be a sign that the wound has become infected,” says McConnachie.
Britain’s health service recommends that those with diabetes should check their feet every day for blisters, breaks in the skin, pain or signs of infection. They should contact their podiatrist or medical team if they are concerned or note any changes.