When you take off your shoes or socks, you may be concerned about foot odor. It is important to take measures to prevent such problems as not being able to fully enjoy yourself when visiting a friend’s house or going to a Japanese-style pub with a tatami room because of the foot odor. This article will introduce the root causes of foot odor, countermeasures, and effective items to eliminate the odor.
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The main cause of foot odor is the growth of bacteria!
Indigenous bacteria exist everywhere on the body, including the face and palms of the hands, but when they multiply, they produce a bad odor. When these bacteria, which are naturally present on the feet, feed on sweat, sebum, dead skin cells, and other substances and multiply, they emit that unpleasant odor.
In particular, the soles of the feet, where sweat glands are concentrated, are said to sweat as much as one and a half cups of sweat per day, and the dead skin cells are thicker than in other parts of the body, making them a treasure house of food for commensal bacteria. In addition, when shoes are worn for long periods of time, they become hot and humid, making it easy for bacteria, which are the source of odor, to multiply.
Fatigue and stress also cause foot odor!
If you are concerned about the odor even after careful care, it may be due to fatigue or stress. This is called “fatigue odor.” When liver function is impaired due to psychological or physical stress or fatigue, the concentration of ammonia in the blood rises and is released through the skin, resulting in an irritating odor. These are also caused by excessive intake of animal protein, so one should also be aware of one’s diet.
Five methods to adopt to prevent foot odor!
Here are some effective ways to take care of foot odor. Some of them can be started today, so please check them out.
Countermeasure against foot odor (1) “Keeping feet clean is a must!
It is important to thoroughly remove dead skin cells and dirt to prevent the growth of bacteria, the main cause of foot odor. The skin on feet is thick and hard, so it is a good idea to soak your feet in a bathtub or a tub of hot water to thoroughly soak your feet before washing them. After carefully washing between the feet and under the nails, where dirt tends to accumulate, it is also important to wipe off the water to prevent the growth of bacteria. Since regular washing is not enough to remove dead skin cells, it is also recommended to use a file or pumice stone.
Countermeasure 2: “The rule of thumb is to let your shoes rest after wearing them once!
The soles of the feet sweat about one and a half cups of sweat per day, so wearing the same shoes every day will not remove the moisture, creating an environment where bacteria can easily multiply. Therefore, it is an ironclad rule to let your shoes rest for a day or two in a well-ventilated place after wearing them once. Rolling up newspaper and stuffing it inside the shoes is also said to be effective in removing moisture. If you must wear your shoes for two days in a row, you can use a moisture absorber for shoes or a dryer.
Countermeasure 3: “Use alum to sterilize and deodorize your feet!
Alum is potassium aluminum sulfate. It is basically used in cooking to remove scum from food and to prevent cooking without cooking, but it is also effective in preventing odor because of its bactericidal and antiperspirant effects. It is difficult to use alum in its powdered form, so it is recommended to make “alum water” and spray it. Put about 10 g of alum in a plastic bottle with about 300 ml of water and shake well. Dilute it further by 10 times, put it in a spray container, and sprinkle it on clean feet. The undiluted solution lasts about one month, and the diluted alum water lasts about one week, so the cost performance is not bad. Incidentally, alum water is sold without making it yourself, so if this is too much trouble for you, you can buy it.
Countermeasure 4: “Remove dead skin cells with a baking soda footbath! And while you’re at it, you can get smooth skin, too.”
Baking soda, which is very useful for cleaning the whole house, is also effective against foot odor. It is very easy to use. Just fill a washbowl with hot water, dissolve 1~2 tablespoons of baking soda, and soak your bare feet in the water for 10~15 minutes. Not only does it neutralize isovaleric acid, which is the cause of bad odor, but it also removes dead skin cells and leads to an environment where it is difficult for bacteria to breed. In addition, it also makes your skin smooth, so you can kill two birds with one stone. If the foot odor is strong, you can apply baking soda paste as it is, but it may be rough if your skin is weak. Therefore, it is advisable to increase the amount of baking soda while observing the situation.
Measures to prevent foot odor (5) “Use socks and insoles to prevent shoes from getting damp!
It is natural for shoes to become damp after being worn for a long time, but there are ways to reduce this by using socks or insoles. For socks, choose breathable and sweat-absorbent socks such as ” five-finger socks,” which are said to be effective in reducing odor, and insoles made of deodorant and antibacterial materials are recommended. However, if insoles are used, remember that they need to be dried together with the shoes when removing the moisture from the shoes, which can be a bit time-consuming.
