7 PROVEN WAYS TO GET RID OF UNPLEASANT FEET SMELL

In the article: why feet sweat and stink, what to do in this case. How to get rid of bad foot odor.

INNA CODRU , MAY 30, 2018

Bad foot odor is annoying and, in some cases, embarrassing. Some prefer to keep their shoes on because their feet are sweaty and stinky, especially when they enter someone else's house. Whether it's due to illness or simply because of excessive sweating, if you suddenly discover the smell from your shoes, then the thought immediately comes to mind - how to get rid of unpleasant foot odor and quickly.

The good news is there are options. There are certain steps you can take to both prevent the odor and get rid of the odor or its cause. Listed below are seven methods that have been tried and proven to work through studies and research.

CAUSE OF UNPLEASANT FOOT SMELL

Before we move on to the methods of fixing this problem, it is important to know exactly why it appeared. After all, the causes may be different and will require different treatments. When bad breath is related to an illness or health condition, you will need to address that issue first to root out that stinky foot odor.

Initial steps can be taken to minimize odor as a side effect of a deeper problem. Know that if your smelly feet are a symptom, then you won't be able to completely get rid of it until you address the root of the problem. Just remove the symptom.

In general, let's not delay, here are seven tried-and-tested ways to eliminate unpleasant foot odor:

START WITH SOCKS

To be honest, the main cause of bad breath is sweat. The smell comes from bacteria and fungi that tend to build up when your feet sweat. And wet sweat is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

Think carefully. When you smell bad odor from any other part of your body, you know that it is not good. This is a sign of some kind of infection. Bad breath is a hint that bacteria have found shelter in a diseased tooth, and a strange smell from, for example, a wound on the arm is a hint of the growth of pathogenic bacteria. So why shouldn't foot odor also be bacteria? The smell coming from your feet is a sign that bacteria or fungi have begun to multiply intensively on the skin of your feet, and these are the ones you need to "take care of".

The best thing you can do, if you haven't already, is to start wearing socks. In this way, you will prevent sweat from getting into the lining of your shoes and slow down (or stop altogether) the self-reproduction of bacteria and fungi. With socks, you'll find that they absorb sweat that could, over time, soak into the shoes. And this already eliminates the cause of the growth of bacteria in the shoes themselves.

You may notice that your socks may start to smell less pleasant at the end of the day. Fine; This is fine. Washing socks and getting rid of bacteria or fungus in them is a piece of cake. The bottom line is that there are no bacteria in your shoes, they are not on clean socks either, which means that they will no longer get on your feet from the outside, causing this persistent and unpleasant odor.

Do your feet still smell? Do you wear flip flops, sandals, and shoes that are meant to be worn without socks, and the smell still won't go away? Well, then you will need to try the following six options.

FIRST REMEDY - FOOD SODA

Baking soda is one of the most powerful household ingredients you can find. Not only is it perfect for baking, but it will also help clean and eliminate odors throughout the house and on the body. If you've been paying attention, then most of the home cleaning tips sooner or later mention baking soda. Your legs will benefit from it too.

Research shows that the power of baking soda comes from one main ingredient, sodium bicarbonate. It is such a neutralizer that helps to balance the pH balance. It doesn't matter if the surface of the skin is overly acidic or alkaline, the neutralizer will bring your pH balance back to an average level, up to about 6-8.

Your feet are more likely to smell sour, so when you apply baking soda directly to your feet, you will pull the balance back towards the middle. You deprive the scent of its power.

In addition, you eliminate the cause of the smell. Baking soda is a natural cleaner and is good at killing bacteria. It also prevents their growth, so there is no reason to increase the smell. In addition, you get healthy legs, which is also a good bonus.

The downside to all of this is that this baking soda trick is only a temporary lifesaver. You will need to use it consistently if you want to have consistently positive results. You can take these foot baths every couple of days using warm water and baking soda. This, in addition to eliminating odor, will help to relieve pain in the legs and moisturize microcracks and corns.

TRY Epsom Salt Baths

Another popular option is to add epsom salts to your bath water. Instead of the baking soda baths mentioned above, try Epsom salt baths.

Contrary to the name, Epsom salts are not salts. They don't dry out your feet or suck moisture out of your skin. Instead, they add minerals to it. The term "salts" is given in recognition of the fact that they are mineral salts.

They naturally cleanse and exfoliate, replenish with sulfate and magnesium. Both minerals help reduce inflammation and inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. You can eliminate the cause of odor by helping the skin on your feet get the nutrients it needs.

This salt also helps heal sores on the feet. Bacteria can get into such wounds, and this also leads to an odor, but the problem will not come to light immediately. And the infection can also get under your nails, so Epsom salt is a good option to help remove odors from your feet.

Epsom salt also acts as a neutralizer. It helps to restore the pH balance of the skin, it is a neutral substance and is no longer at a level that can cause a sour smell. Again, this method is temporary, and you need to do foot baths regularly. The great news is that your feet will be hydrated and feel great after a long day at work, giving you plenty of reasons to do this routine every couple of nights.

Learning to add the correct amount of Epsom salts to the water will take time. To understand if you used enough salt, the smell after the procedure will help. You should not smell anything other than Epsom salt. If yes, then this is a sign that you did everything right, if not, then next time you will need to add a little more salt.

If you choose to take an Epsom salt bath, then you don't need to do a separate foot bath at night or the next day. Such a full bath will provide the whole body with the necessary relaxation and treatment.

ANOTHER FOOT ODOR REMOVER - BLACK TEA

It may seem a little strange, but believe me, it is true. Tea is rich in antioxidants, and natural antioxidants. It helps lower cholesterol levels, improves kidney function, reduces the risk of diabetes, and helps with symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. This is a natural and delicious healer that you will definitely want to add to your diet.

Recent studies show that it can also help eliminate the problem of bad foot odor. It's all about the tannins contained in black tea, which effectively fights against the unpleasant odor emanating from the body, especially from the legs. Tannins are polyphenols, plant-based molecules that studies show are naturally capable of eliminating odors.

In addition, antioxidants fight bacteria, also the cause of bad smelling feet. If you get rid of the cause, you will get rid of the side effect in the form of this smell. Everything is so simple.

But just like the previous two options, you need to make sure you take black tea baths regularly. We all know how to make tea, just let the water cool down so that you can freely put your feet in it. Try doing this when the water is still warm. You can also add cold water after you have brewed your tea if you don't want to wait for it to cool down.

Keep your feet in the tea for about 15 minutes. You may notice that the legs are slightly tanned, this is not a problem, then you can rinse them and the "tan" will come off.

Although drinking tea is both beneficial and pleasant, it is still not as good as using foot tea. Use only black tea for this. Other types of tea are not as effective.

USE APPLE VINEGAR

Vinegar, although acidic, does not raise the acidity level of your skin. Instead, it will help get rid of the direct cause of the stench: bacteria.

Apple cider vinegar, like baking soda, is usually always around the house, even if you don't cook regularly. It is good for many types of household needs. You can use it to clean dishes, remove stains from clothes, treat acne, and much more. It is useful for killing bacteria in the mouth, helping to improve oral hygiene. With that in mind, it's no surprise that vinegar will help kill bacteria on your feet as well.

Apple cider vinegar is not that acidic. It's great for sensitive skin because it's a bit more neutral than other types of vinegar. But it is still effective against bacteria. You can try this remedy once a month or so while you are using other options to treat your feet.

All you have to do is soak your feet in a bath of water and apple cider vinegar for 10 minutes. Due to its slightly more acidic nature than the other options already mentioned, it works faster and more efficiently. It is best not to exceed 10 minutes as there may be some tingling sensation due to the acidity of the vinegar.

If you have fungal infections, then you can use this mixture to treat your feet. Apply it with a cotton pad on your feet and leave for about 10 minutes before rinsing off completely. This helps to directly attack the fungal infection that is causing the smell.

DON'T WEAR THE SAME SHOES ALL THE TIME

Honestly, one of the best things you can do is change the shoes you wear on a daily basis. If you reduce the amount of time you wear your shoes, you will also reduce the amount of bacteria that can grow in them. This is especially important during the winter or rainy months when you are likely to be wearing closed shoes that cause sweat to build up.

Give your shoes time to dry before wearing them again. This means that there are two or three interchangeable pairs.

By changing your shoes, you can also prevent a condition known as pitted keratolysis. This is a type of foot skin disease that occurs as a result of hyperhidrosis, usually at pressure points on the feet. Sometimes it can appear on the palms of the hands, but mostly the feet suffer from this.

When choosing shoes, look for shoes that allow your feet to breathe. This prevents the buildup of bacteria in the shoes and can minimize odor build-up.

Open toe shoes are also very effective. During the summer, opt for more sandals and flip flops to keep your feet from sweating. Bare feet will allow air to constantly circulate around them. They breathe better, which prevents bacteria from multiplying.

If you must wear closed-toed shoes, opt for shoes with removable insoles. You can take them out, wash them and replace them if necessary, this will protect your feet.

DO NOT FORGET THE BASICS - HYGIENE

Even if you always wear socks with your shoes, keeping your feet clean or not will have a direct impact on whether or not you develop an odor. Eventually, poor hygiene will lead to an accumulation of bacteria and fungus. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that they do not have such an opportunity.

This means that you need to take a shower every day. Use antibacterial foot soap, especially if you have an odor problem i.e. with the accumulation of bacteria on the skin of the feet. You can also use a foot scrub to get rid of dry skin buildup, this will reduce clogged skin pores and give bacteria a chance to multiply.

It is also important to dry your feet well, removing that moist environment that bacteria and fungi love so much. It's best to dry with a paper towel to keep bacteria and fungus off your bath towel. Finally, wipe your feet with a cotton pad soaked in apple cider vinegar or witch hazel mixture.

Antibacterial foot scrubs can be helpful, but not for everyone. They should not be used if you already have any skin infection, eczema, sores or cracks.

You'll also want to reduce the chances of getting nail fungus, so your toenails should always be clean and trimmed. If you notice that a fungal infection has appeared, immediately begin treatment to get rid of it and talk to your doctor (depending on the degree of infection).

DO NOT RUN THIS PROBLEM

Many people assume that bad foot odor is normal, especially if they lead an active lifestyle. This view was at one time supported by TV shows and literature, especially in regards to men or those who exercise a lot. This is wrong! A bad smell means that there is a problem with bacteria, and this problem needs to be addressed. Eliminate the cause, and you will get rid of the side effect in the form of an unpleasant odor.

The effectiveness of these seven tips to get rid of bad foot odor has been proven by research and scientifically. Which one will you try first?