Five Tips to keep your Feet Odour-Free
It is awkward, unpleasant and stressful but it can be treated. These five tips will help prevent excessive perspiration and foot odour and help put your mind at ease.
There are more sweat glands in our feet than anywhere else in the body – and they have a job to do: cool you down and keep the skin on your feet moist and supple. However, if you don’t take these steps regularly, the sweat could lead to an odour and other foot care problems.
1. Healthy Hygiene
There’s no getting away from it – the single best thing you can do for your feet is to keep them clean and ensure you dry them thoroughly. Hydrating the skin regularly with a specially formulated foot cream such as Amopé™ Pedi Perfect™ Daily Moisturizer Foot Cream to prevent dry skin on feet will make looking after them much easier. If you suffer from excessive sweating, consult your doctor and use antibacterial soap and a specialist foot powder (always read and follow all label directions for any OTC products).
2. Strive for Dry
You may think that washing your feet, drying them properly and changing socks would be enough to freshen things up. However, when your feet sweat, bacteria grows in your footwear and continues to do so even once you’ve taken your shoes off.
If you leave damp shoes in a dark place such as the cupboard or under the bed, these are ideal conditions for the bacteria, enabling them to grow further. Put these damp shoes on again and you’ll simply repeat the process. Try to get your shoes as dry as possible before you wear them again. You can use a hairdryer on cool setting or leave them in a dry place outside, such as a balcony.
3. Use in Rotation
As it takes well over 24 hours for damp shoes to dry out thoroughly, your best bet is to alternate your shoes from day to day. If possible, wear different shoes on three consecutive days before repeating.
Athletic footwear is particularly prone to creating sweaty situations – especially when used during a workout – so make sure you have at least two pairs to swap between, wash them regularly in the washing machine (check specific washing instructions), and ensure they are left to dry properly.
4. Let Them Breathe
Canvas and leather upper shoes allow a fairly free movement of air around the foot. Synthetic uppers should have mesh sections to allow air in. Don’t be tempted to wear shoes without socks – not even athletic footwear. The result will be that all the sweat from your foot goes directly into the shoe rather than being absorbed into your socks.
5. Give it a Rest
It’s not completely clear why some people’s feet sweat more than others. However it is certain that tired, strained feet are more likely to get sweaty. If possible, avoid being on your feet all day, that will help. If that’s just not a possibility, treat your feet to a footbath now and again, using essential oils or gentle bath foam. Then put them up and relax!
Foot odour is very unpleasant and can make you very conscious around others. Try these perspiration prevention techniques, as well as investing in a good foot antiperspirant and you don’t have to worry anymore!