Feet naturally perspire just like any other area of the body. Closed shoes and thick socks make the feet hot, causing them to perspire. Some people have a high concentration of bacteria and fungi living on their feet which will further exacerbate the problem of smelly feet.
Perspiration is not just water. It contains a range of waste substances like urea, which is the same chemical present in our urine. Bacteria and fungi that live on the skin will break down the perspiration and produce offensive smelling gas as a by-product.
Using certain shoes and socks may make the problem worse. Some types of leather and plastics produce
a strange odour and when combined with perspiration and the bacterial and fungal by-products, make the odour worse. Poor personal hygiene is another contributing factor. Not bathing regularly or properly will aggravate a bad foot odour.
Some people do not suffer with smelly feet even if it is hot. The reason for this may be that they have a lower concentration of bacteria on their skin. Another possibility is that their perspiration contains less odour producing by-products. Fungal infections on the skin of the feet and toe nails (athlete’s foot) are a problem as well and will worsen if left untreated.
There is no overnight cure for smelly feet. The focus should be on good foot hygiene and shoe care by treating any bacterial or fungal infections on your feet or in your shoes. If you perspire profusely, then you should use a good drying powder to keep your feet dry. Perfumed products will only provide short term relief so there is no real point in spraying your feet with a deodorant every morning.