PREVENTING AND TREATING SMELLY FEET.

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.