How To Get Rid Of Unpleasant Foot Odor?

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

How to get rid of unpleasant foot odor?

Constant irritation with various bodily odors has long become alien to modern man. Thanks to the observance of hygiene and the development of the perfumery industry, any healthy person can choose the aromas coming from him. But in some cases, defeating nature is not so easy.

An unpleasant smell emanating from the feet can spoil the mood of even the most cheerful person. The worst thing is when this smell is felt even with shoes on, which means that the issue must be resolved as soon as possible. Usually, the problem of unpleasant foot odor is allowed to take its course, and this can lead to unforeseen consequences and complications, not to mention the banal discomfort that occurs every day.

Content:

• Why does foot odor occur?
• Provoking factors
• Unpleasant foot odor with fungal diseases
• Personal hygiene rules
• Deodorants for feet
• Creams, lotions for feet
• How to get rid of unpleasant foot odor?

Why does foot odor occur?

Natural causes

The primary medium required for unpleasant foot odor is the sweat produced by the glands in the skin of the feet. There are quite a few sweat glands on the legs, therefore, when overheating, which occurs due to physical exertion, wearing warm shoes, heat, poor-quality material of socks and shoes, the release increases to 200 g per day.

Sweat itself has a rather subtle odor that is not easily recognizable. Sweat is almost entirely water, and salts, ammonia and acids, which are excreted through the sweat glands, account for only 1% of the total weight of secretions, so they cannot be the cause of foot odor.

Studies have shown that a truly unpleasant odor from feet is due to the multiplication and activity of bacteria, for which a warm and humid microclimate in shoes is simply ideal. As a result, bad-smelling metabolites and bacteria themselves, mixed with sweat, remain in the fabric of shoes, and even daily washing of socks does not help get rid of them.

Of course, microorganisms are not always to blame - sometimes sweating and a strong smell of sweat are individual traits of a particular person. In this case, close people themselves usually know about such a feature, so that only strict hygiene is required from the patient, and the problem will be solved.

Pathological causes

Unfortunately, it is not only opportunistic bacteria that have chosen legs as a habitat.

Other parasitic organisms can also provoke an unpleasant smell:

• Nail fungus;
• Foot fungus.

In addition, systemic diseases can negatively affect sweat composition and worsen foot odor:

• Diabetes
• Tuberculosis
• Hormonal adjustment;
• VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia);
• Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• Diseases of the nervous system, as well as stress and fears;
• Improper nutrition, affecting the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys.

If the smell at the feet appeared for no apparent reason, when it was not there before, you should consult a doctor for a comprehensive physical examination.

Provoking factors

In addition to the reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the legs, everyone should know what exactly contributes to the development of both natural and pathological odors:

• An unpleasant odor in any case becomes stronger if:
• Personal hygiene rules are not followed: regular bathing, washing things, etc.;
• Footwear (tights, socks) or shoes made of synthetic materials;
• There is not enough frequent change of clothes for the legs;
• The feet are constantly locked in closed-type shoes;
• Wearing wet shoes and socks.

If all of the above factors are excluded, but the smell still remains, you can try using creams or special deodorants - with the natural origin of the smell, this most often helps. You can get rid of the unpleasant odor of a pathological origin only by curing the corresponding disease.

Unpleasant foot odor with fungal diseases

The problem of foot or toenail fungus is not familiar to everyone, since in most cases, infection does not occur due to an immune response. The disease occurs only under the condition of a weakened immune response, and then the fungus spreads quickly enough to fight it for a very long time. So how do you get rid of unpleasant foot odor in the presence of fungal diseases?

The following medications may be prescribed by the doctor against the fungus:

• Ketoconazole, Fluconazole, Intraconazole - tablets for internal use;
• Nizoral, Zalain - cream for external use;
• Lamisil, Terbiks - sprays with antifungal effect;
• Demicten, Lotseril, Batrafen - varnishes against nail fungus.

In the fight against fungi, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the rules of hygiene of the skin on the legs, as well as instructions for the use of antifungal pharmaceuticals. Regular disinfection of shoes will also help to get rid of unpleasant odors.

Personal hygiene rules

These rules are quite simple, but if the patient admits weakness and does not follow at least a few of them, no means will help get rid of unpleasant foot odor. In some cases, even one hygiene practice is sufficient to eliminate this odor.

• Three times a day, you need to wash your feet with a detergent (soap or shower gel).
• If health permits, after each wash you need to pour cold water on your feet.
• It is necessary to regularly remove the stratum corneum, which is home to fungi and bacteria. For this, scrubs, peels with fruit acids, etc. are used.
• After bathing, the legs are thoroughly dried, especially between the toes.
• Tights and socks should be made of breathable natural materials, in extreme cases - with a slight admixture of synthetics. They should be changed daily.
• Shoes must meet the highest requirements for the quality of materials, as well as be proportionate.
• Once a week, the inside of the shoes is treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate.

Deodorants for feet

In order to get rid of unpleasant foot odor as a symptom, until its root cause is eliminated, deodorants are used. They are a convenient and affordable means of daily use.

Distinguish between deodorants by type: cream, spray, gel or talc, as well as by the mechanism of action:

• Antiperspirants - simply block the pores through which the secretion of the sweat glands is excreted. For some, they are not suitable, since with prolonged use they can cause stagnation of the discharge. Example: FreshFoot, Klima Surefoot Spray, Odor Control Neutra-Active.
• Normalizing sweating - are able to keep the amount of sweat secreted at the minimum acceptable level necessary for the body to function normally. Example: Deo control, Vishy 7 days.
• Healing - they have an antiseptic effect that helps to temporarily get rid of the odor provoked by bacteria. Example: Gevol honey.

Creams, lotions for feet

In order to eliminate excessive sweating, foot creams are also used. They are suitable for permanent use, it is only important to choose the ideal product. In addition to preventing sweating, the cream helps to soften and nourish the skin.

Among the popular foot creams, the best are:

• Dry-Dry from Scandi Line is a clear lotion with aluminum chloride hydrate and denatured alcohol. Thanks to the active substances, a protein-aluminum plug is formed on the sweat tubules. Blocked sweat is secreted through the free glands higher up the legs and excreted by the kidneys. The product is able to prevent excessive sweating for 5 days.

  Method of application: Apply gently to dry and clean skin of the feet one hour before bedtime. Massage a little, then wait a couple of minutes for the lotion to dry. After applying the cream, it is not recommended to carry out any bath procedures so as not to wash off the drug.

• Lavilin by Hlavin is made in Israel and is replete with natural ingredients: calendula, chamomile, mountain arnica, potato starch and talc. Thanks to them, the cream destroys fungi and bacteria, binds excess fluid. Zinc oxide, ethylhexylglycerin and triethyl citrate slow down sweat production.

  How to use: rub evenly into the skin on problem areas, then for about 15 minutes do not allow the product to get wet. If the unpleasant odor reappears, the cream may be reapplied.

• "5 days" by Galino Farm contains zinc oxide, acetyl alcohol, camphor and menthol. This ensures a complex effect: menthol refreshes and creates a feeling of coolness, camphor disinfects the skin, alcohol retains moisture, and zinc oxide dries and binds unpleasant odor molecules.

  Method of application: daily, preferably before going to bed, apply a small amount of the cream on clean and dry skin so that the product is completely absorbed into the skin without leaving an oily film.

• Deo-control differs from Kalina with a special oil vitamin complex OilCare. The complex includes cocoa butter, lavender and shea butter, as well as tea tree extract, retinol, tocopherol and nicotinic acid. The protective film formed by these substances prevents sweat odor and bacteria growth.

  How to use: rub into the skin between the toes and over the entire surface of the feet after a shower. Reapplication is required after each bath or if an unpleasant odor is found.

• Green Pharmacy Foot Cream has antifungal and deodorant properties. Tea tree oil, menthol, camphor and zinc oxide provide a long-lasting five-day effect.

  Method of application: cover the skin of the feet with a small amount of cream and wait until the product is completely absorbed. The product becomes more effective when used after steaming the skin in a bath, steam room or sauna.

How to get rid of unpleasant foot odor with pharmaceutical products?

• Benzoyl peroxide gel or lotion 5 and 10% is also popular under the trade names Oxy Silver, Baziron AS. It was developed to combat acne, but it is a well-known practice for treating unpleasant foot odor. The action is due to the content of benzoyl peroxide, which stops the growth of anaerobic bacteria and fungi. The course of continuous use should not exceed 3 months.
• Teymurov's paste is a special remedy for excessive sweating. Dries and disinfects the skin with salicylic and boric acid, talc and zinc oxide. Rubbed overnight between the fingers and into the skin of the feet with massage movements for two to three minutes. The period of continuous use is 3-4 days, between which a break of 2-3 days is required.
• Lavender oil is added to the foot bath as an emollient, disinfectant and tonic. For better dissolution in water, 5 ml of oil is pre-mixed in milk. The foot bath procedure at room temperature of the solution lasts no more than 20 minutes.
• Formidron - formaldehyde is used as an active ingredient. It is used once a day by rubbing into problem areas - the easiest way to do this is with a cotton swab, since the product is available in the form of a solution. Always use with caution - the drug can provoke dry skin.
• Burnt alum is a powder made from natural potassium-aluminum alum. Alum is a unique substance capable of absorbing excess sweat and immobilizing opportunistic and pathogenic microorganisms. The powder is used on clean skin in the morning, the rest of the powder is washed off with an evening swim.
• Boric acid - eliminates unpleasant odors thanks to its antiseptic properties. It is applied by falling asleep in socks. In the morning, linen with boric acid distributed over the surface is put on clean feet, and in the evening it is sent to the wash. The mode of use of the drug is daily for a week, then a week off.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy". Useful articles on the topic of fungus: Toenail fungus - stages, symptoms, how to get rid of?

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