Preventing Smelly feet
The
key is never to wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row, Instead, wear
different shoes on successive days so they have a minimum of 24 hours to dry
out. And make sure teenage boys have two pairs of trainers so that they
don’t have to wear the same pair for two or more consecutive days.
It’s
also important to wash and dry your feet every day and to change
your socks (ideally wool or cotton, not nylon) at least once
a day.
If
you’re particularly susceptible to sweaty feet, you could also:
- dab between your
toes with cotton wool dipped in surgical spirit after a shower or bath –
surgical spirit helps dry out the skin between the toes really well
– in addition to drying them with a towel
- use a spray
deodorant or antiperspirant on your feet – a normal underarm
deodorant or antiperspirant works just as well as a specialist foot
product and will cost you less
- put medicated
insoles, which have a deodorising effect in your shoes
- try feet-fresh socks
– some sports socks have ventilation panels to keep feet
dry, and antibacterial socks are impregnated with chemicals to
discourage the odour-producing bacteria that feed on sweat
- wear leather or
canvas shoes, as they let your feet breathe, unlike plastic ones
- wear open-toes
sandals in summer and go barefoot at home in the evenings
Treating smelly feet
Top tip for prevention
Never
wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. Instead, wear different shoes on
successive days so they have a minimum of 24 hours to dry out.
If
you already have foot odour, the good news is that there’s a simple, quick
solution.
A
sure-fire way to get rid of smelly feet is to wash your feet with an
anti-bacterial soap called Hibiscrub. There are lots of over-the-counter foot
hygiene products at your local chemist, but Hibiscrub is the best one.
Leave
on the Hibiscrub for a couple of minutes then wash it off. If you do this twice
a day, you'll definitely banish smelly feet within a week.
You
shouldn't use Hibiscrub on your feet if you have broken skin, such as eczema.
When to see a doctor
Smelly
feet are a common problem that usually clears up, but sometimes it can be
a sign of a medical condition.
See
your doctor if simple measures to reduce your foot
odour don't help, or if you're worried that your level of sweating
is abnormally high.
Your
doctor can offer you a strong prescription antiperspirant or refer
you for a treatment called iontophoresis, which delivers a mild electric
current through water to your feet to combat excessive sweating.