What causes foot odor?

Everybody is familiar with this phenomenon. Most of us have a friend or relative who can clear out a room when they kick off their shoes. And even the sweetest smelling person can do a decent job stinking up a pair of shoes by running a few miles in them. So what's going on here? Why do your feet have a stronger odor than the rest of you does?
If taking off your shoes clears a room, you may be suffering from a condition known as bromhidrosis, or extreme foot odor.

The main reason some people's feet (or more precisely, some people's socks and shoes) smell worse than other people's is that some people sweat more than other people. This is just one of the many variable physiological qualities of human beings. This is also why sometimes your feet smell much worse than at other times -- it all has to do with how much you sweat.

Additional common causes of foot odor include:
Excessive anxiety
Various skin conditions

These causes of foot odor are not dangerous to your health, but do create an environment for the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus. Infections such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus may soon follow, so take steps to keep bromhidrosis at bay.

Preventing Foot Odor

It is relatively easy to control most cases of foot odor by taking number of preventative steps:

Good foot hygiene to reduce bacteria to low levels is the first place to start:
Bathe your feet daily in lukewarm water with a mild soap and dry thoroughly, especially between the toes.
Change your socks at least once a day (change your shoes as well if you do sweat a lot).

Dust your feet frequently with a foot powder (always wipe beteen the toes to remove excess moisture, so that it does not 'clog' between the toes).

Wear thick, soft socks to help absorb the moisture. Natural fibre socks such as wool or cotton and other absorbent materials are better.

Avoid the use of nylon socks or plastic shoes - wear shoes that are made of leather, canvas, mesh or other materials that let the feet breathe.

Its is best not to wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row - they need time to dry out. Remove the innersoles from to help with the drying.

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