Foot Odor

No one wants to have foot odor, but everyone who wears socks and shoes most of the day will have foot odor. All feet sweat, and shed skin cells.  The warm, moist environment our feet stay in day in and day out is the perfect breeding ground for foot odor. In spite of that, there are several ways to combat it.

Home Remedies for Foot Odor:

Bathing:

Bathing at least once a day, scrubbing with and antibacterial soap and thoroughly drying between your toes, even using a blow dryer (the heat really Zaps bacteria) helps to prevent the growth of odor causing bacteria, as well as applying corn starch, baking soda, or foot powder to both your feet and your shoes helps to control foot odor.

Socks:

Wearing only cotton socks, and changing them often, especially after playing sports, or exercising, will go a long way to keep your feet dry and keep foot odor under control. Wearing shoes made of natural materials like cotton or leather, allows your feet to breathe, and is a deterrent to bacterial growth. Rotating your shoes, so that they have at least a day, preferably more, to dry and air out between wearing also prevents bacterial growth.

Tea Tree Oil:

Applying tea tree oil and calendula oil, both natural antifungal agents, are extremely effective in treating foot odor and athletes foot, if applied to clean, dry feet, especially between the toes, and then clean, dry cotton socks and shoes of a natural substance are worn.  Tea tree oil and calendula oil can be found in both foot washes and powders, in health food stores.

All natural sage powder has been known to inhibit bacterial growth and absorb moisture. Medicated powders, particularly talcum powder, or powders formed specially for foot odor are also available at pharmacies and department stores.

If your foot odor is accompanied by itching and burning, especially between the toes, if you see blisters or redness on your feet, especially between your toes, you probably have athletes foot. Tea tree oil is a particularly good natural cure for athletes foot, and always wearing flip flops or swim sandals when bathing or showering in a public facility (after sports, swimming, in college dorms) is a good preventative measure. Many over the counter treatments are available to cure your foot odor, if it is caused by athlete’s foot.