How to get rid of foot odor forever
Do you want to know how to get rid of foot odor? Don't worry, with our tips you will be able to eliminate foot odor forever.
Bad foot odor or plantar bromhidrosis, as well as other body odors, usually appear during or after puberty. This is due to the action of certain bacteria in the sweat of certain areas of the body.
But the big question is: if we all sweat and have bacteria on our skin, why do only some people get smelly feet? Do not miss this article, we clear this and other doubts about bromhidrosis. If your feet smell, take note, we'll show you how to solve this annoying problem.
Why does foot odor appear?
The bad smell of feet, as well as other parts of our body, is produced by the sweat glands. These generate sweat that is usually liquid and odorless. In turn, there are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.
1. Eccrine glands are the most common and are spread over the entire surface of the skin. The sweat produced by these glands is made up of 99% water and 1% mineral salts, such as sodium chloride or salt and urea. The main function of these glands is to control body temperature, which is why we perspire every time we are too hot or when we exercise. Sweat, therefore, serves to cool the body and help it stay between 36 and 37ยบ C.
2. The apocrine glands, on the other hand, are only present in some parts of our body, such as the armpits, the groin, or around the nipples and anus. These glands develop between 8 and 14 years of age, which produce a kind of oily sweat that does not evaporate and does not have a thermoregulatory function either.
In either case, both the eccrine and apocrine glands produce odorless sweat. However, the action of bacteria naturally presents on the skin in the regions where there is more perspiration can give rise to an unpleasant odor. Some regions of apocrine glands, such as the armpits and genitalia, tend to be more prone to the development of bromhidrosis. This is because the oily sweat from these glands is easily digested by bacteria, releasing a gas with an unpleasant odor.
On the other hand, in places where there are eccrine glands, sweat is made up of water and salt, so there is no substrate for bacteria to produce a bad smell. Bad foot odor, however, is different because, despite the fact that the sweat glands in that area are eccrine, they can also cause foot odor. In addition, the fact that the foot is covered most of the time can have the following consequences:
* If the person sweats more to try to control the temperature, and the feet are the parts of the body where there are more sweat glands, this can cause excessive perspiration.
* Sweat will have more difficulty evaporating, which will cause the feet to always be wet and favor the proliferation of bacteria.
In addition, our skin has a protein called keratin that is constantly renewed. On the feet, if this protein is continually exposed to moisture, it ends up being good food for bacteria. It is the very degradation of keratin by bacteria, that is the reason why your feet smell.
Factors that favor foot odor
As we have said, the presence of sweat and bacteria is the main cause of foot odor, but there are other factors that contribute to its intensity. The two most important factors for the appearance of bad foot odor are the amount of sweat you produce during the day and the time you spend with your feet covered without contact with the air so that the sweat evaporates.
Those who suffer from hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes them to sweat excessively, are more likely to have foot odor. Lack of hygiene also contributes to foot odor, as it favors bacterial proliferation. Try not to repeat socks or shoes for several days in a row or you will increase the risk of your feet' smell. Some foods can promote bromhidrosis. The most prominent are garlic, onion, alcohol, curry sauce, and pepper. Certain medications can also contribute to foot odor, such as penicillin.
Finally, obese, diabetic, smokers, or patients with skin or nail diseases are also more predisposed to foot odor than the rest of the population.
How to get rid of foot odor
Do your feet stink? Well, you must reduce the humidity in that area to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin. Here are some tips to help you solve the problem:
* Avoid wearing the same shoes several days in a row.
* Shoes should always be in well-ventilated areas, and it is convenient to expose them to the sun for a few hours.
* Use footwear that allows better ventilation of the feet.
* Avoid wearing shoes without socks, and better if they are made of cotton.
* If you sweat a lot, change your socks during the day if you notice that your feet get wet.
* Try to use powder in your socks and shoes to facilitate the absorption of moisture.
* Take advantage when you are at home to walk barefoot or with sandals.
* Wash your feet daily with antiseptic soap and dry them very well, especially between the toes.
If foot odor does not improve with these tips, we recommend that you visit a dermatologist. Patients with hyperhidrosis may also need medical treatment to stop foot odor.
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