Sweaty feet and shoe odour

Where the smell comes from

The feet have many sweat glands, and closed shoes keep sweat from evaporating. The NHS, the UK’s National Health Service, names a build-up of sweat and bacteria, as well as fungal infections, as the main causes of smelly feet. Why sweat starts to smell is covered in detail in “Why does sweat smell, and how can you get rid of the odour?”.

That is why you need to act in three places at once: the skin of your feet, your socks and your shoes. Deal with only one, and the smell soon comes back from another.

Caring for your feet

The basis is clean, dry skin.

• Wash your feet at least once a day; the NHS suggests an antibacterial soap if you can.
• Dry your feet thoroughly, especially between the toes. The NHS suggests keeping a separate towel for your feet.
• Remove hard skin with a foot file and keep your toenails short: the NHS includes this in preventing odour.
• Take your shoes off when you can and let your feet air: this is advice from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
• Do not walk barefoot in shared showers and changing rooms.

Socks

Socks absorb sweat first, so they decide how much moisture ends up in your shoes.

• If you sweat heavily, change your socks at least twice a day, as the NHS advises. Carry a spare pair.
• Choose socks that handle moisture well. The NHS suggests absorbent socks; the AAD suggests socks labelled “moisture wicking”, made of bamboo or synthetic fibres. Try both and compare which keep your feet drier. More on fabrics in “Fabrics for heavy sweating: cotton, linen, wool or synthetics”.
• Do not wear the same socks two days in a row.

Shoes

Shoes hold moisture longest, and that is where the smell lingers after your feet are already washed.

• Do not wear the same pair two days in a row: shoes need time to dry out. Rotating at least two pairs makes this easy.
• Choose shoes made of natural materials such as leather: the AAD explains that they let air circulate better.
• Where possible, do not spend the whole day in closed boots and trainers: the NHS notes that feet sweat more in them. Tight shoes are best avoided too.
• Use absorbent insoles and foot powder, as the AAD advises. Take the insoles out overnight so they can dry.
• A pharmacy can offer antibacterial soap, powder, foot deodorant or medicated insoles: the NHS suggests asking a pharmacist to help you choose.
• Dry sports shoes and kit after every workout. We covered getting the smell out of clothes in “How to get the sweat smell out of sportswear”.

Antiperspirant for feet: how to apply it

If your feet sweat heavily, caring for your shoes is not enough: you need to reduce the amount of sweat itself. The AAD names antiperspirant as the first treatment for sweaty feet and advises applying it to dry skin before bed. The International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS) notes that the feet usually need stronger formulas than the underarms.

• In the evening, wash your feet and dry them thoroughly, including between the toes. After a hot bath, wait until the skin has cooled down and is completely dry. “Why the skin must be completely dry” explains why this matters.
• Apply a thin layer to the soles and, if needed, the tops of the feet. The skin must be intact: do not apply the product to cracks, chafed or irritated spots.
• Let the product dry completely before you stand on the floor or put on socks.
• In the morning, wash your feet with soap and water and put on clean socks.
• Once sweating eases, the AAD advises continuing as needed, usually once or twice a week. If you notice redness, burning or itching, take a break.

When to see a pharmacist or a doctor

Smelly feet are a common problem, and the NHS stresses that there is nothing to be embarrassed about in discussing them with a doctor. Get help if:

• you have itching, whitish flaky patches or cracks between the toes: this is often how a fungal foot infection shows up, and a pharmacist can help you choose a treatment;
• pharmacy treatments have not helped, or your foot or leg is hot, red and painful, which may be a more serious infection;
• you have diabetes or a weakened immune system: in that case the NHS advises showing any foot problem to a doctor;
• the smell does not go away with self-care or affects your life;
• heavy foot sweating lasts for months, happens every week and gets in the way of everyday activities.

What a dermatologist may offer

For heavy foot sweating, a doctor may offer iontophoresis (the feet are placed in water through which a weak current passes), botulinum toxin injections or tablets. According to the AAD, the effect of injections in the feet lasts three to six months. More in “Hyperhidrosis: what treatment options are there?”.

The bottom line: dry feet, fresh shoes

Washing and drying your feet every day, changing socks, and rotating and airing your shoes remove the conditions for odour. If your feet sweat heavily, add an evening antiperspirant: less sweat means less moisture in your shoes.

OKEY suits every area prone to heavy sweating, including the feet. It is a long-lasting, fragrance-free antiperspirant for women and men, in a 35 ml roll-on bottle. Following the instructions, it is applied in a thin layer to clean, completely dry, undamaged skin in the evening before bed, and the residue is washed off in the morning. You can buy OKEY on Kaspi for 7990 ₸, with the option to return the bottle within 14 days. For regular customers it is 6990 ₸ on our site okeystaydry.com, with free delivery to a Flip pickup point and no returns. The buy button is below.