25 Jan 3 CAUSES OF TERRIBLE FOOT ODOR
One of the primary factors in developing terrible foot odor is having an excessive amount of moisture on your feet and inside your shoes. Each of your feet has many sweat glands, which makes it more difficult to keep moisture under control. Allowing your shoes to dry out between uses and applying antimicrobial powder will help keep microbes and foot odor at bay.
Some common causes of foot odor include the following:
- Microbial infections—While many people believe their sweat is the cause of foot odor, this is not the case. Bacterial and fungal organisms emit these offensive odors as they feed on your sweat, so you can help avoid foot odor by keeping the sweat under control.
- Toenail and skin conditions—The same microscopic fungi that cause athlete’s foot infections and odor also cause fungal toenail infections. Either one of these conditions can be a significant source of foot odor, and they often co-occur, so see your foot doctor for comprehensive care.
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)—This is a system-wide medical condition that causes severe sweating under the arms, on your palms, and from the many sweat glands on your feet. The additional moisture this creates in your shoes is an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to grow and produce terrible foot odor.
By wearing shoes made from a breathable material like canvas or Gore-Tex, excess moisture will evaporate more quickly. Moisture-wicking socks will also help.
You can bring terrible foot odor under control with the help of your foot doctor. If you have pain in your foot or heel, problems with your ankle, an injury, ingrown toenails, or any other issues with your feet, our experienced team of podiatrists is here to help!
Contact us today to make an appointment with Alta Ridge Foot Specialists at one of our three offices at 105 Chestnut Street, Mars Hill, or 440 Alta Pass Highway, Spruce Pine, or 2211 NC Hwy 105, Boone, NC. Our dedicated doctors will provide state-of-the-art care to our patients. Dr. W. Aaron Broyles, Dr. Robert L. Van Brederode, and Dr. Thomas Verla and their staff serve patients in Madison, Mitchell, and Watauga County.