5 Causes of Foot Odor and What You Can Do About It

There’s a strong fragrance of something… foot in the air. Is it really me?! Panic begins to set in. We’ve all been in your, ahem, shoes. Bromodosis—yes, foot odor has its own very formal name—is usually nothing to be concerned about. Here are a few reasons why your tootsies stink so bad, as well as what you can do about it.

Replace your socks.

To be fair, it isn’t all the sweat’s fault. When you have sweaty feet, the moisture and warmth create a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. The odor is caused by microorganisms breaking down your sweat and dead skin cells. Isn’t it pleasant?

According to Alex Kor, DPM, a staff podiatrist at Johns Hopkins Medicine and president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, the best strategy to combat sweat-related odor is to change your socks on a frequent basis, especially when they’re wet. “You want to wear something that wicks moisture away,” he explains, recommending merino wool as an excellent example of such a garment.

While sweaty feet may conjure up images of summer, Kor says he sees a lot of foot odor complaints in the winter since many of us are wearing thick, less breathable socks to remain warm. “You sweat even in the cold, and when you get inside, you don’t change your socks because you’re still cold,” he explains. You don’t have to be extremely hot to sweat profusely.

If dry socks aren’t working, apply antiperspirant on your feet. Yes, it’s true. Any ordinary stick will do (though we can’t vouch for placing it back in your armpit after a toes-ward excursion). Kor recommends using prescription-strength antiperspirants once or twice a week at night. (Just make sure your antiperspirant doesn’t contain these seven components.)

You don’t take a break from wearing your shoes.

Your shoes, like your socks, should not stay warm and moist, which is why many podiatrists advise against wearing the same pair day after day. Of course, “a lot of people can’t afford to do that,” adds Kor, particularly if your profession requires you to wear a specific shoe. When you wear the same pair of shoes all the time, foot care becomes even more crucial. He recommends cleaning and exfoliating your feet using a pumice stone or PedEgg, as well as scraping off dry skin with a pumice stone or PedEgg. The type of shoe you wear can also make a difference. “If you’re prone to foot odor,” Kor advises, “wear something that breathes.”

Anyone who has had their feet held to the fire (no, not literally!) knows that extra pressure and stress can lead to increased sweating. “There’s no denying that when people are more stressed, they sweat more,” Kor adds. Stress-induced sweat, on the other hand, is made up of different chemicals than conventional heat-induced perspiration since it is produced by a different type of sweat gland, and therefore has a stronger odor. Consider having a couple extra pairs of socks in your office or wherever you’re feeling particularly anxious.

You’re hormonal.

Pregnant women, menopausal women, and even acne-ridden teenagers may experience an odor of something particularly smelly emanating from their feet due to a change in hormone levels. People going through puberty, pregnancy, or turning a corner in life, on the other hand, frequently have bigger fish to fry. “It’s not like I see a lot of youngsters or pregnant women complaining about foot odor,” Kor adds. (In just three weeks, you can balance your hormones and drop up to 15 pounds!

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You were overcome by an infection.

Athlete’s foot is one of the most common gym-goers’ anxieties, and on top of the discomfort, the fungus can also cause foot odor, according to Kor. Well-intentioned athletes, on the other hand, are prone to make one critical error, he claims: “Moisture between the toes will itch for a lot of individuals.” Those who exercise will apply an anti-fungal cream, believing it is fungus, in the hopes of preventing the problem. Instead, the cream’s wetness exacerbates the problem. Kor recommends using anti-fungal powder between the toes instead of lotion on the bottoms and sides of your feet.

Kor will occasionally go over all of the standard foot hygiene instructions with a patient and the scent will persist. “Sometimes I’ve tried everything and nothing works,” he says, “so I’ve placed individuals on oral antibiotics.” “It’s a rare occurrence, but bacteria caused by the increased wetness will be effectively destroyed.”