Written by Jennifer Sample, MD | Reviewed by Christine Giordano, MD
Updated on June 25, 2024
Key takeaways:
Sweaty feet create a warm, moist environment that’s perfect for bacteria and fungi growth. Certain bacteria produce an odor, causing stinky feet.
You may be more prone to developing stinky feet in warm weather, if you wear tight shoes, or you are on your feet all day. These are all things that can make your feet sweatier.
At-home and over-the-counter remedies can get rid of stinky feet. Keep feet dry by wearing moisture-wicking socks, alternating the shoes you wear, and going barefoot at home.
Reviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD | March 28, 2024
Imagine this: You finally get to sit down and take off your tight, uncomfortable shoes after walking around in them all day. But you’re too afraid of the smell to do it.
If you’ve ever been too embarrassed to take off your shoes because of stinky feet, you are not alone. Everyone’s feet smell at one time or another. There’s even a medical term for it: localized eccrine bromhidrosis or bromodosis.
But there are ways to banish foot odor. Here’s everything you need to know about how to get rid of stinky feet.
What causes stinky feet?
Smelly feet develop because of two things: sweat and the bacteria that live on skin.
There are thousands of sweat glands on the feet. In fact, the soles of the feet have the highest number of sweat glands of any area on the body. And adults have more sweat glands on their feet than children, which is why adults are more prone to stinky feet.
But sweat by itself doesn’t cause stinky feet. The smell comes from the microorganisms that live in sweaty places. Sweat causes your skin to become soft and creates a moist environment that encourages bacteria and fungi to grow. As bacteria and fungi grow and feed on dead skin, they release chemicals that smell bad, leading to smelly feet.
Everyone has bacteria and fungi on their skin. And everyone’s feet sweat. So why do some people have feet that smell more than others?
Some things that increase your risk of smelly feet are:
Increased sweating: If you’re walking all day in hot weather, you are more likely to have stinky feet at the end of the day. Exercise, warm temperatures, and wearing thick socks or tight shoes can all make your feet sweat more.
Poor ventilation: The type of socks and shoes you wear can affect foot odor. Footwear made with synthetic fabrics may not allow moisture to leave the feet. And moist feet mean more opportunities for bacteria to grow and create a stink.
Skin infections: It’s normal to have bacteria and fungi living on your feet. But when one microorganism “takes over” it can lead to a skin infection. Fungal infection of the foot, called athlete’s foot, is a common skin condition that can increase the odor coming from the feet.
Other medical conditions: Excessive sweating can be the result of another medical condition. For example, people with hyperhidrosis experience excessive sweating. Hormonal changes during menopause affect body temperature regulation. And people who are pregnant have hormone changes, increased skin temperature, and more active sweat glands — all of which can lead to sweatier feet.
Medications: Some medications may cause sweating as a side effect. Certain antidepressants, pain relievers, and hormone therapy for breast and prostate cancer can make you sweat more.
How to get rid of stinky feet
You can’t completely get rid of the bacteria and fungi that live on your skin. But you can keep their numbers down. The fewer bacteria and fungi you have on your skin, the less smelly your feet will be.
Keeping your feet as dry as possible is key. Less sweat means less bacteria and fungi growth.
Here are other things that can help get rid of stinky feet:
Wash and dry your feet. Wash your feet with mild soap and lukewarm water at least once a day. And make sure to completely dry them afterward, including between your toes.
Go barefoot at home. This includes sleeping without socks, which will keep your feet cooler and prevent sweat from being trapped against the skin.
Wear shoes in public and communal places. This includes places like public showers and gyms. Wearing shoes will protect you from extra bacteria and fungus.
Try a foot antiperspirant. You can use regular antiperspirant on your feet, but you might have better luck with a prescription-strength antiperspirant that contains 20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
Use essential oil. Put a few drops of an essential oil that contains lemongrass or thyme on your feet. These oils can decrease the amount of bacteria living on your feet. You can also place a few drops of oil on a cotton ball and place it in your shoe overnight. This can help rid your shoes of bacteria, too, and will improve stinky feet.
Try a foot soak made from Epsom salt or vinegar. If you try a soak with vinegar, the recipe is 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar. You can soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes once a week. Just make sure you don’t have any open sores. You can also treat your shoes with a vinegar mixture. Mix vinegar and water together in equal amounts and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the insides of your shoes, especially on the soles, to kill bacteria. Let your shoes completely dry overnight before putting them back on.
Try moisture-wicking socks. Wear clean, moisture-wicking socks when possible. Change your socks when they become damp, which could mean changing your socks a couple of times a day. This will help prevent sweat from collecting in your shoes.
Don’t wear the same shoes every day. Shoes need time to dry out between wears to keep bacteria from growing. If you need to wear specific footwear for work or something else, get two pairs of the same shoes and alternate them.
Put baking soda in your shoes. While there are many over-the-counter products that you can sprinkle in your shoes to combat odor, one that you may already have at home is baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes before you put them on to help decrease the moisture and eliminate odor.
Treat athlete’s foot if you have it. Athlete’s foot can worsen smelly feet. To treat it, you can use an antifungal cream (like terbinafine or miconazole), powder, or spray.
Talk with your healthcare professional about iontophoresis. Iontophoresis is a treatment that uses a small current of electricity to block your sweat glands. While it may sound scary, it’s completely safe, and studies show most people report decreased foot sweating when using iontophoresis.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my feet smell like vinegar?
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What your feet smell like is partly determined by the type and amount of bacteria or fungi living there. Propionibacterium is one type of bacteria that can give off a vinegar-like scent and could be contributing to feet smelling like vinegar.
What does athlete’s foot smell like?
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What kind of socks are best for stinky feet?
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The bottom line
Everyone has stinky feet at one time or another. Bacteria and fungi that cause foot odor love to grow in warm, moist places, so keep your feet as dry as possible.
Antiperspirants, moisture-wicking socks and essential oils can help fight stinky feet. But simple habits like washing and drying your feet, and keeping shoes clean and dry can also eliminate odor.
References
American Society for Microbiology. (2021). Microbial origins of body odor.
Bossung, V., et al. (2023). Changes in heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, and skin temperature throughout pregnancy and the impact of emotions — a longitudinal evaluation using a sensor bracelet. Sensors.
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