feet Archives - Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain

What is that smell coming from my shoes?

BioPed Footcare — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:26:56 +0000

Have you ever taken your shoes off and been accosted by an offensive and pungent odour? Has that smell lingered in the hall closet long after you’ve removed your shoes? Smelly feet can cause embarrassment and social awkwardness. There are several reasons feet and shoes may become smelly. Let’s explore the causes and what you can do at home to remedy this pesky issue!

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?

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.
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.
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.
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.
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!

The post What is that smell coming from my shoes? appeared first on Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain.

Nails, Skin and Footwear

BioPed Footcare — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 01:38:18 +0000

Footwear is often an exacerbating factor of foot ailments. Ill-fitting footwear is not only uncomfortable, it can cause nail and skin issues. It may prevent you from being comfortable and accomplishing your daily activities.

Not all footwear is created equal. This is why understanding the benefits of proper footwear and the negative side effects (if the style and fit are not appropriate) are important.

Today, let’s review basic features of a shoe and how each can contribute to the health and function of the foot.

Basic footwear anatomy

The last is what the shoe is made from, or the starting point of a shoe’s creation.

The heel counter cups and supports the heel.

A firm heel counter will offer more support during gait as it will control the rotation and movement of the rearfoot.

The sole, usually made up of several layers, can vary in thickness depending on the activity the shoe is designed for.

The vamp cradles the midfoot and connects to the tongue.

The tongue is a piece of material that sits under the laces or the securing component of the shoe, protecting the top of the foot.

The toe box is the part of the shoe that covers, surrounds and protects the toes. It should be wide and deep enough to accommodate the toes and allow them to splay out naturally when weight-bearing.

Nail and skin conditions effected by footwear

Injury to the nails and skin can occur if shoes are too narrow or shallow or do not support the foot well enough. Ill-fitting footwear can cause trauma to the nail and skin on the feet, leading to damage over time.

Nail conditions

Fungal toenails are common and can be unsightly. A fungal infection in the nail appears in the nail plate but actually resides in the nail bed.

An injury can also cause the nail plate to become more curved and dig into the skin at the sides, causing pain, otherwise known as an ingrown toenail. This pain can force a person to change the way they walk or move to protect their affected toe.

Treatment

Footcare treatment for fungal toenails at a BioPed clinic will include thinning of the nail plate to increase comfort in footwear and enhance results of over-the-counter or prescription treatment.

There are a variety of solutions for ingrown nails. An innovative nail bracing system that reduces the curvature of the nail plate over time, is a painless treatment with zero down time. A BioPed Registered Chiropodist can remove part or all of the offending nail to provide short-term or long-term relief. Both approaches can provide pain relief and allow for more effective conservative nail care to be performed.

Skin conditions

Footwear is a usual suspect when blisters occur as shoes can cause excess friction on toes and the back of the heel. Callus and corns may result from the way the foot moves in relation to the ground. This can cause the skin to thicken, otherwise known as hyperkeratosis. Callus and corns can occur on and in between the toes, bottoms or sides of the foot.

Treatment

Callus and corns will be reduced or debrided during a footcare appointment, increasing comfort and function.

If you are suffering from a nail or skin issue on your feet, visit a BioPed clinic today. BioPed’s holistic approach to lower limb health ensures you are treated with the best care. This includes an assessment, problem-solving, treatment options and internal referral to a team member if needed.

The post Nails, Skin and Footwear appeared first on Relieve Foot Pain & Leg Pain.

What is that smell coming from my shoes?

BioPed Footcare — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 11:03:17 +0000

Have you ever taken your shoes off and been accosted by an offensive odour coming from inside? Have you wanted to attempt to staunch the smell by immediately putting them back on? Has that smell lingered in the hall closet long after taking your shoes off?

What is causing that smell?

Simply put, there could be many reasons for lingering smells in your shoes. Let’s take a look at some of the common causes!

Athlete’s foot or other types of foot or nail fungus

Your feet can pick up fungus and bacteria from anywhere. When not wearing shoes or socks in public places, such as public pools, showers, or gym spaces, our feet are susceptible to picking up fungus and bacteria. Our homes can also be a place where this happens! If our family members walk around barefooted, they can pass whatever bacteria is on their feet to ours. Due to the nature of fungus or bacteria, smells can linger on the foot and in the shoe long after it is removed.

Sweating or skin shedding

When we wear our shoes, especially without socks, the build up of moisture and sweat absorbs into the shoe. Like body odour, foot odour soaks into the shoe and is released back into the air when we remove them. Dead skin cell build up also creates an odour when particles are left in the shoe. Of course, this is still possible with socks on. However, socks can act as a barrier for the moisture. Some fabrics are moisture wicking, removing the sweat from our feet and absorbing them into the fabric of the sock instead of letting it pool on the skin and in the shoe.

Lack of aeration

Whether we step in a puddle or remain completely dry throughout the day, stuffing our shoes into a closet, enclosed area, or gym bag can contain the odours in the shoe. So, when we put our shoes back on that lingering smell is still there.

How do I know the source of the smell?

So we know common causes of smelly shoes, but how can we identify which one applies? Here is how you can identify the source!

Athlete’s foot (other foot or nail fungus)

Look for a patch of white or red irritated skin on the bottom of the foot. This patch is usually intensely itchy. For nail fungus, the nail can become discoloured and thick. An odour often accompanies fungus or bacteria living on the feet in and out of the shoe. These can also be diagnosed by a Doctor, Chiropodist or Podiatrist or further treatment recommended by a BioPed clinician to one of the above.

Sweating or skin shedding

You may be sweating if you have hot feet or notice slipping and sliding in the shoe with or without a sock. Your foot will feel moist for extended periods during the day and feel damp when taken out of the shoe. You may see the residue in the shoe itself if you don’t wear socks with them, signalling dead skin cells collecting in the shoe.

Lack of aeration

Look where you store your footwear – is it out in the open, under the bed or in a duffle bag?

How can BioPed help you?

Athlete’s foot (other foot or nail fungus)

A BioPed Pedorthist can help recognize the signs of a foot or nail fungus and refer you to a specialized footcare professional or back to a Doctor for further treatment if medical grade interventions are required. We also have a range of footcare products, such as Footlogix Nail Tincture solution for nail fungus available in clinic. We also have Advanced Footcare nurses and Chiropodists at select locations. Check out the BioPed website to find a clinic near you that can serve your needs!

Sweating or skin shedding

Wearing moisture-wicking or thermoregulating socks can help control sweating and moisture accumulation in your shoes. At BioPed we carry an array of compression and diabetic socks in our clinics. Call to see if a fitting is required and talk to your physician about the benefits of compression socks.

Lack of aeration

Try storing your footwear in an open area with proper air flow, either from a fan moving air or an open window. Utilizing scented freshener products may also help reduce unwelcome odours in enclosed spaces. BioPed Footcare carries Footlogix Shoe and Foot Spray deodorants for your feet or shoes that kill odour-creating bacteria. Talk to a BioPed clinician about the best option for you!

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