Why Feet Smell and Cause for Smelly, Stinky Foot Odor Natural Prevention Cure

You have smelly feet because you have sweaty feet. The average foot contains around 3,00 sweat glands per square inch. Encase all these sweat glands in a shoe, where the temperature routinely climbs to above a 100 degrees, and your feet will tend to perspire.

When you combine this perspiration with bacteria that normally lives on your skin, then tuck it in a warm dark environment, your shoe, you have a fertile breeding ground for your skin’s bacteria to grow.

That offensive smelly foot odor is bacteria produced isovaleric acid. And the more the moisture, the more bacteria proliferation, and the smellier the feet.

Also, the primarily male condition of hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, exacerbates this odor problem. Other perspiration enhancers are stress, some medications, fluid intake and hormonal changes.

Smelly feet, or isovaeric acid, can usually be controlled with a few natural prevention measures. Practicing good foot hygiene helps keep the bacteria levels to a minimum:

  • use stinky feet insoles
  • always dry your feet thoroughly
  • change your socks and shoes daily
  • always wear socks with closed shoes
  • avoid wearing nylon socks or plastic shoes
  • in extreme cases apply antibacterial ointment
  • daily bathe your feet in warm water and mild soap
  • don’t wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row
  • give shoes at least 24 hours to air out between wearings
  • dust your feet frequently with a baby powder or foot powder
  • if the odor in your shoes remains after airing out, discard them
  • alternate pairs of athletic shoes so that these shoes can dry out
  • wear shoes made of leather, canvas, mesh or other materials that allow your feet breathe
  • wear thick, soft socks to help draw moisture away from your feet, cotton or other absorbent materials are best

These preventive measures also can help prevent athlete’s foot, which thrives in the same sweaty foot environment.

Two other natural prevention cure options are soaking your feet in one part vinegar and two parts water, or strong black tea for 30 minutes a day for a week. The tannic acid in the tea kills bacteria and closes the pores:

  1. Use two tea bags per pint of water
  2. Boil for 15 minutes
  3. Add two quarts of cool water
  4. Soak your feet in the cooled solution

If all these odor prevention methods fail the smell test, additional medical measures for your horrendously smelly feet are iontophoresis or nerve cutting. Discuss these further treatment options with your doctor.

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