Feet have many sweat glands, and when sweat gets trapped in shoes, especially those that do not allow air flow, bacteria can and will grow. As the bacteria break down sweat, an unpleasant smell develops.

Shoe odour is common, but it can sometimes point to a larger issue, such as excessive sweating, fungal infections, or footwear that is not providing enough ventilation.

Ways to Deodorize Shoes and Reduce Odour

If your shoes smell bad, there are many ways to reduce the odour and make your footwear feel fresher. These include:

• Let shoes air out after wearing them
• Rotate between different pairs of shoes
• Remove insoles to allow them to dry fully
• Clean removable insoles when possible
• Sprinkle baking soda inside shoes overnight
• Use foot powders or sprays to reduce moisture
• Wear moisture-wicking socks instead of pure cotton socks
• Choose shoes made with breathable materials

It is also important to make sure your feet stay as dry as possible throughout the day.

Some signs that moisture may be causing the problem include:

• Damp socks at the end of the day
• Sweaty feet during exercise or work
• Shoes that stay wet for long periods
• White, peeling, or itchy skin between the toes
• Persistent odour even after cleaning shoes

If the smell continues despite cleaning your shoes, there may be an underlying foot condition contributing to the problem.

How to Remove Smell from Shoes and Feet

Sometimes treating the shoes alone is not enough. It is also important to address what is happening with the feet. Some common causes of foot odour include:

• Excessive sweating
• Athlete’s foot
• Bacteria on the skin
• Thickened skin or calluses that trap moisture
• Wearing the same shoes every day
• Poor foot hygiene

There are several treatment options that may help:

• Wash feet daily with soap and water
• Dry carefully between the toes
• Change socks during the day if needed
• Use antifungal creams or sprays if recommended
• Wear properly fitted shoes with good ventilation
• Replace old shoes that continue to hold odours

A professional assessment can help identify the cause of the smell and recommend the right treatment plan.

How the BioPed Clinical Team Can Help

Different foot care professionals can help depending on the cause of the odour. A Certified Pedorthist can:

• Assess your footwear and fit
• Recommend more breathable shoes
• Suggest moisture-wicking socks or insoles
• Identify footwear issues that may trap heat and sweat

A Registered Chiropodist can:

• Identify & treat infections, such as Athlete’s foot
• Treat skin and nail concerns
• Recommend medical treatments for excessive sweating
• Address calluses or other skin conditions

A Medical Foot Care Nurse can:

• Provide skin/nail foot care and hygiene
• Monitor skin health
• Offer support for people with mobility concerns
• Identify early signs of skin breakdown or infection

Tips to Help Prevent Shoe Odour

Once the smell improves, a few simple habits can help keep it from coming back.

Helpful prevention tips include:

• Alternate between shoes each day
• Replace socks daily
• Avoid wearing damp shoes
• Choose breathable footwear when possible
• Use foot powder if your feet sweat heavily
• Clean insoles and socks regularly
• Treat fungal infections early
• Replace shoes that no longer dry properly

Shoe odour is common, but it does not have to become an ongoing problem. Addressing moisture, improving footwear, and treating any underlying foot conditions can make a big difference. With the right care, it is possible to keep both your feet and your shoes feeling fresher.

The post Why Do My Shoes Smell So Bad? appeared first on Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain.

Athlete’s foot can occur anywhere on the body but is especially common in between the toes and on the bottoms of the feet where the moisture level tends to be higher. A fungal infection on the bottom of the foot is known as moccasin tinea pedis as it typically covers the sole and sides of the foot like a moccasin or slipper.

What Causes Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is caused by a particular fungus known as dermatophytes. It is referred to as “Athlete’s foot” because it’s often picked up in places that athletes frequent, such as showers, gyms and change rooms. These places are not the only sources of infection though. As mentioned previously, fungus lives where it is warm, dark and moist.  Our socks and shoes are the ideal breeding ground for fungus to set up shop! When skin is too moist, it tends to be weaker and may be more susceptible to fungus and other microorganisms.

What Does Athlete’s Foot Feel and Look Like?

In between the toes:

• The skin in between toes may appear white, peeling, cracked, and could feel itchy, have a burning or stinging sensation.
• Inflamed skin in between toes can present as red, purple or grey.
• White indicates the skin is macerated or wet.

Bottoms of the feet:

• The skin on the sole and sides of the foot is typically itchy and may appear dry and scaly with peeling skin. Moccasin tinea pedis is often mistaken for dry skin.
• This type of fungal infection tends to be long-lasting and difficult to eradicate, making proper diagnosis and prompt treatment imperative.
• In more severe cases, small blisters or openings in the skin can develop as part of the rash.

 How Can Athlete’s Foot be Treated?

It is important to seek treatment from a Primary Care Professional or a BioPed Medical Footcare Clinician if this skin issue becomes persistent or causes discomfort. Diabetes or a suppressed immune system can increase risk for complications as this type of infection can easily worsen and spread.

• At home, it’s important to wash and dry in between the toes daily.
• If moisture persists, rubbing alcohol can help to dry up overly wet tissue. Applying it with a cotton tip applicator and allowing it to dry before putting socks on, can help!
• Over-the-counter and prescription antifungal creams and solutions are effective when applied as directed.
• If moccasin tinea pedisdoes not resolve with topical treatments, an oral medication may be required to cure the infection.

Your Shoes Need Treatment Too!

Firstly, do not share shoes, this type of infection is contagious! Allow shoes to air out between wears and change socks frequently if feet are sweaty. Clean Sweep spray can be used in shoes to disinfect and eradicate the presence of microorganisms. If used properly, odour and fungal burden will dissipate quickly! Ultraviolet lights made to fit in shoes are also an effective way of making sure fungus is gone, lessening the chance of reinfection.

How Can BioPed Help?

If you think you might have a fungal foot infection, we can help! We have treated our clients for many conditions, including Athlete’s foot. Give your local BioPed Footcare & Orthotics a call today to find out the next best steps and get the care your feet deserve!

The post Athlete’s foot? What is it and how do you treat it? appeared first on Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain.

What causes smelly feet and shoes?

Infection – Our feet are exposed to microorganisms, such as fungus and bacteria, constantly!  Walking barefoot around public pools, showers, or gym spaces, increases the likelihood for infection.  Athlete’s foot and onychomycosis (fungal toenails) can be malodorous and uncomfortable.  Erythrasma and pitted keratolysis are bacterial infections that can also be quite unpleasant.  Our socks and shoes are warm, dark, and moist, the ideal environment for microorganisms!

Peeling or dry looking skin, redness, white or itchy skin on the bottom of the foot or in between the toes could signify a fungal or bacterial infection. Fungal toenails typically appear discoloured yellow, brown, or white and may become thick or crumbly.  If you notice an odour in your shoes or coming from your feet, it’s best to seek medical advice.  You could have an infection that requires treatment with an anti-fungal or anti-bacterial medication.

Sweating – Sweating is a natural process in the body that helps regulate temperature.  Wearing socks and shoes all day can exacerbate sweating and could lead to foot odour.  Excessive sweating is known as hyperhidrosis (hi-pur-hi-DROE-sis) and may cause social anxiety and embarrassment.  If you notice your feet are smelly, you may have developed bromhidrosis (brohm-hi-DROE-sis), a complication of hyperhidrosis caused by the presence of bacteria. There are treatment options for excessive sweating such as astringents or anti-perspirants to help dry the skin, achieving improved moisture balance.

Lack of air flow – Wearing shoes can trap moisture inside and against the skin for hours at a time.  Socks help to absorb moisture and are frequently laundered, whereas bare feet inside shoes can lead to odour.  Taking shoes off at the end of a long day and immediately putting them away into a closet, enclosed area, or an athletic bag, doesn’t give them the opportunity to properly air out.  This could result in a smelly shoe!  At the end of a long day, allow your feet and shoes to air out.

Tips on how you can treat and prevent sweaty feet?

1. Change socks daily and throughout the day if needed. Choose socks comprised of breathable and moisture wicking materials.  Polyester, nylon, and wool are most effective at keeping the moisture level more balanced and skin on the feet healthier.
2. Always try to wear shoes made of breathable materials such as leather or mesh. Rubber boots and Gore-Tex shoes are water-resistant and useful in wet weather, but this means they are inherently less breathable.
3. Wash your feet daily to keep the surface of the skin clean which will reduce the risk for fungal and bacterial infections. If an odour is present, using an anti-bacterial soap to wash feet can help.
4. Applying rubbing alcohol or using a foot powder can help to wick away moisture on the skin. Rubbing alcohol is an astringent which dries the skin and an antiseptic which cleans the skin.  Some foot powders are formulated with antimicrobials to lessen the presence of fungus and bacteria.  Powder can also cool and soothe irritated skin.
5. It’s also important to treat your shoes, braces, and orthotics! Clean Sweep^® is an antimicrobial spray fortified with nanosilver which is formulated to reduce the growth of bacteria, fungus and mold in shoes and devices that are in contact with feet.  Amazingly, these treated items, are reactivated by perspiration.  Clean Sweep^® is available at BioPed Footcare and is an effective way to control smell emanating from your shoes.

Come See Us!

If you think you could have an infection, contact your Primary Care Provider or your BioPed Medical Footcare Clinician now to be assessed.  For more information about smelly feet, give your local BioPed a call today to book an appointment.  See you soon!

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