It's common and normal for feet to have some smell due to sweat and bacteria, but strong, persistent odor (bromodosis) isn't ideal, as it signals excessive bacteria and moisture, which can be managed with daily washing, drying thoroughly (especially between toes), wearing breathable socks/shoes, and rotating footwear. While mild odor is fine, severe smell indicates a need for better hygiene or a potential underlying issue like a fungal infection or hyperhidrosis, requiring home remedies or a doctor's visit if it persists.
Smelly feet are not something to be embarrassed about. It's important to see a GP so they can check if it's caused by a condition and needs treatment.
All feet are going to have some smell to them. It's inevitable. The average foot contains over 250,000 sweat glands. And just like the rest of your body, your feet are crawling with bacteria.
You also might wash your feet with antibacterial soap. Setting shoes out in the sun also may help. Wash shoes or insoles. Some insoles or shoes, especially sneakers, may be washable — a great way to kill odors and get clean-smelling shoes again.
Increased sweating can create a favorable environment for bacteria to thrive, leading to foot odor. Additionally, consuming foods with high levels of sulfur, such as onions, garlic, or certain spices, can cause body odor that may affect the feet as well.
Many people may not be familiar with the medical name bromodosis but they know the condition it refers to: smelly feet. Over 15 percent of individuals report a problem with foot odor and even more suffer occasionally with this issue.
Your Socks Are Synthetic
That dark, warm, damp environment makes your feet a bacteria playground. Even if they're naturally occurring, bacteria can quickly grow out of control, leading to a stink-fest. If the sweat soaks into your shoes, the effect is only heightened.
The front part of the foot produces the most sweat. The smell is exacerbated by factors that increase sweating, such as wearing closed-toe shoes. Sports footwear such as sneakers is often heavily padded inside which provides a perfect environment to trap moisture and allow the bacteria to thrive.
Soak your feet 1-2 times per day in a water and baking soda bath. After thoroughly drying your feet with a towel, be sure to allow them to air dry completely. Change your shoes every day. Take them off during the day to let them air dry when your feet become warm and moist.
Experts recommend spraying an over-the-counter antiperspirant on the bottom of your feet and in between your toes as first-line treatment. (Be sure to read our Antiperspirant Spray Recall Report here first.) If you suffer from an annoyingly sweaty face, consider applying an antiperspirant along your hairline.
Even if you practice good hygiene and the steps mentioned above, smelly feet can still occur. Although not very common, some individuals have genetic predispositions for sweating which can be controlled with topicals and prescriptions.
In a “Dear Annie” advice column, a nurse wrote in to share an unusual but intriguing tip: She said zinc deficiency can cause body odor, including stinky, smelly feet, and that after taking zinc supplements, the foot odor disappeared completely†.
In a 1994 study, 45% of those with a foot fetish were found to be aroused by smelly socks or feet, making it one of the most widespread forms of olfactophilia.
There are numerous bacteria that live on feet, which feed off the sweat, producing an acid that actually causes the odor. If that's not enough, fungus also thrives in warm, moist environments like what sweaty feet provide. So, if the bacteria on your foot isn't what causes foot odor, fungus might be the culprit.
The most popular types include:
They act as microbial sponges, collecting bacteria and fungi from soil, water, pet hair and dander, and the general dust of everyday life. In one study, socks worn for just 12 hours had the highest bacterial and fungal counts of any clothing item tested.
Sweating and body odor most often affect the underarm and groin areas, the palms, the bottom of the feet, and the head, face and scalp. It's common for some people to sweat more or less than other people. Body odor also can vary from person to person. It might smell tangy, oniony, sour or some other strong odor.
While everyone's feet smell sometimes, some peoples' feet produce more stink. “If you wear shoes for 16 hours a day while working in a warm environment, your feet are more likely to smell than someone who works from home and spends most of their day barefoot,” Dr. Brouyette says.
Most of the time, foot odor isn't a sign of underlying illness. However, severe sweating and foot odor in every season — not just when it's hot during the summer — could be a sign of hyperhidrosis.
We get it — it's a common problem, but sometimes it can make you self-conscious (“wait, can other people smell that, too?!”) and affect your confidence. Inner thigh odor is caused by various factors, including excessive sweating, fungal infections, poor hygiene, and hormonal changes.
If you've always had a smelly foot odour, it could be from Bromodosis. This inherited condition causes sweat to come out of the feet and releases a bad smell. It can be unpleasant and embarrassing, especially if it comes out while wearing open shoes or socks.
Excessive sweating of the feet seems to be an inherited problem. No one knows exactly why it occurs, but people who sweat excessively seem to have a different “set point” than other people. Most people sweat when it's hot out, or when they become warm. People with hyperhidrosis sweat excessively almost all the time.
Adopting a few key hygiene practices can go a long way in preventing foot odor: