Foot odor = Bacteria + foot sweat

To study clearly what is going on with foot odor, scientists conducted a series of experiments. It is quite interesting that Japanese scientists such as Kanda persisted in picking and smelling stinky feet for years and days, helping to clarify the cause of stinky feet, and they were awarded the 1992 Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine.

It turns out that there are more than 250,000 sweat glands on both feet, and they secrete dozens or even hundreds of milliliters of sweat every day. If they are collected, they can be filled with a small half bottle of mineral water bottles. Under the restraint of footwear, most of the water secreted on the feet is absorbed and not easily evaporated, resulting in a relatively humid environment.

It doesn’t matter if it’s just humid because sweat itself has no taste; however, there are various microorganisms on the surface of the human body, including bacteria, and the hot and humid environment wrapped in footwear provides favorable conditions for the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

Bacteria will decompose dandruff and the protein and lipids in the stratum corneum of the skin. The leucine produced is further degraded by the bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids such as isovaleric acid. These volatile substances with an “unpleasant odor” are over-concentrated. When high, foot odor develops.

It is worth mentioning that the production of foot odor mainly depends on the degradation of proteins and amino acids by bacteria. The more bacteria and the more enzymes secreted, the more stinky the feet will naturally be. However, some bacteria secrete enzymes with high activity, even if the number of bacteria and enzymes is small, they can cause serious foot odor.

Can “fancy foot bath” really help you relieve foot odor?

There are many remedies for foot odor, but the actual effect is uncomfortable. In addition to soaking feet in vinegar, there are also ginger soaking, garlic soaking, tea soaking, and medicinal wine soaking feet, and so on. It is almost like a pickled pig’s feet.

It has to be said that these soil methods have certain rationality. For example, some ingredients in garlic and ginger can inhibit the growth of bacteria. High salt, acid, and alcohol environments are also not conducive to the survival of bacteria, but their sterilization, antibacterial effects, and soapy water and disinfection Compared with liquid, it is not the same.

Many people with mild foot odor have indeed improved their foot odor after using the above methods. However, if you can carefully wash your feet with soap for 15-30 minutes a day, even if you don’t add these “seasonings”, it is estimated also to be useful.

As for the disinfectant, even if it is medical, it is impossible to kill all the bacteria on the body’s surface. The remaining bacteria and spores can reach the pre-disinfection level within a few hours as long as the conditions are suitable. What’s more, the moment you wipe your feet with a towel and put on shoes and socks after soaking your feet, your relatively clean feet are immediately contaminated.

How to properly control foot odor?

Since bacteria and foot sweat are the “sources” of foot odor, controlling the reproduction of bacteria and keeping the feet dry is the “focus” of preventing foot odor. Therefore, to control foot odor, you also need to combine other methods to multi-pronged. Clinicians at home and abroad have summarized some methods to prevent and treat foot odor, including the following points:

Foot cleaning
At least once a day, wash or soak your feet with soap and warm water for more than 5-10 minutes, pay attention to removing dirt and dead skin on sweaty areas such as between toes and soles;

Trim your toenails regularly to reduce hiding places for dirt and bacteria;

When there is no disinfectant, you can sprinkle a little baking soda into the foot wash;

After washing your feet and bathing, dry your feet thoroughly before putting on shoes and socks;

When circumstances permit, you should try to free your feet from the restraints of footwear and socks. Of course, it is not recommended to take off your shoes at will in public.

For footwear

Because footwear and socks that are attached to foot sweat and shedding dander have a lot of bacteria breeding, so socks should be changed and washed daily, and shoes should be changed and used;

The changed socks should be turned over and washed to remove internal dander and bacteria, and they should be washed separately from other clothes;

Shoes and insoles can be disinfected with antibacterial sprays or powders, or they can be placed under the sun and sterilized by ultraviolet rays;

When there is no disinfectant, you can sprinkle a little baking soda into the shoes and socks. The alkaline environment can inhibit the growth of bacteria, and the carbon dioxide produced by decomposition will not leave a special smell.

Choose footwear with good air permeability, such as pure cotton, wool socks, leather shoes, mesh sports shoes, etc. Nylon stockings, barefoot shoes (except dragging, sandals), etc. will increase foot sweat, should be avoided;

For strenuous exercise, it is best to replace shoes and socks in time after getting wet;

Other suggestions
Avoid spicy foods and spirits that promote sweating;

Severe foot sweats need to go to a specialist clinic to rule out hyperhidrosis caused by hyperthyroidism, pituitary dysfunction, diabetes, neurological diseases, infections, and other factors and can be treated with antiperspirants and related drugs under the guidance of a physician.

Studies have shown that the citral, citronellal, and other substances in citronella and citronella leaves can effectively inhibit the activity of leucine dehydrogenase secreted by foot bacteria, thereby inhibiting the production of isovaleric acid, and achieving the purpose of eliminating foot odor Therefore, the extracts of Mujiang Zi and Citronella Liquid also help to control foot odor. There are many active carbon adsorbents, deodorants, and other products available on the market.

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