3 Tips to Prevent Foot Odor

I may be generalizing, but I think it’s safe to say, all of us deal with foot odor…to some extent. Some of us more than others. And we all have that one friend, sibling, mom, dad, son or daughter whose feet just absolutely stink! Rather than just accept that foot odor is a part of life, let’s proactively manage it.

Below are three proactive tips for dealing with stinky feet:

1. Wash Your Feet

It sounds obvious, but a quick rub with soapy water in the shower isn't enough. The objective here is to get rid of any bacteria and dead skin cells that bacteria like to feed on. So when you wash your feet, exfoliate the entire surface of your foot with a washcloth, brush, or any other scrubbing tool (don’t forget the soap!). Make sure to scrub between your toes, too!

2. Keep Your Footwear Fresh

Wearing open shoes lets the air flow around your feet, keeping them cool and keeping you from producing as much sweat. When you do sweat, it will evaporate quickly due to air circulation. Obviously, not all of us can wear open toed footwear for a variety of reasons, which makes it important to also change your socks daily. Socks absorb your sweat when you wear them, and that sweat dries when you take them off. Putting on a dirty pair of socks for the second day in a row, is essentially going to reheat that sweat and lead to a foul smell (gross). Change your socks every day, especially if your feet tend to get sweaty.

3. Keep Your Toenails Trimmed

Nail care is important for a variety of reasons. When it comes to foot odor, bacteria and fungus can get trapped under your nails. By trimming your nails regularly, you can eliminate any build up.

No one likes smelly feet. Take proactive measures to prevent it, your friends, family, and yourself will be thankful.

Billy Kanter CPED