Summer is upon us and with that comes extra exposure for your feet. Whether you’re wearing loafers, sandals, or popping your shoes off at the pool, the fact is, warm weather leads to more opportunities for your feet, and that foul foot odor, to get a little daylight.
Summer footwear doesn’t have to be a source of embarrassment; on the contrary, you should be able to make the most of warm weather. We’re here to arm you with some knowledge surrounding footcare. First, we’ll cover why foot odor shows up in the first place. Next, we'll give you a few easy hacks to fix existing foot odor. And lastly, we’ll give you a few tips on how you might prevent foot odor altogether.
Why Does Foot Odor Exist?
You may have guessed it, but the primary culprit here is sweat. Your feet contain a high concentration of sweat glands; these glands are usually your ally, helping your body regulate heat and expel toxins.
While this sweat plays an important role, it does have olfactory drawbacks. The sweat you produce is odorless, but naturally occurring bacteria on our feet feeds on proteins in the excreted fat when you sweat. This reaction results in that embarrassing stinky feet smell we all know and hate.
How to Get Rid of Smelly Feet
We know that feet produce sweat, sweat is consumed by bacteria, a process which leads to an unpleasant odor. So, what’s to be done about smelly feet and shoes?
- Try giving your feet some extra love in the bathing department.
If this tip feels elementary, that’s because it is. Feet equal sweat. Sweat equals bacteria. Bacteria equals odor. Solution? Extra care can help to remove excess bacteria and odors.
Try scrubbing your feet with an antimicrobial soap before or after a long day. If you’re feeling too lazy for a good old-fashioned scrubbing, try soaking your feet in warm water and baking soda, (baking soda fulfills a similar role as the antimicrobial soap).
- Consider using an exfoliator; removing dead skin clears bacteria that would otherwise feed on sweat. A dry brush or pumice stone can be your best friend in warmer months.
- Give your shoes more attention; your feet aren’t the only ones who can benefit from some TLC.
Washing shoes: If your smelly shoes can go in the washer without damage, a good rinse will kill off bacterias and remove odors.
Give your shoes a break: If you have a favorite pair or an everyday pair, try giving them a day off. Alternating between pairs of shoes gives the materials time to dry from sweat.
How To Prevent Smelly Feet
Now that you’re familiar with the causes, and a few ways to get rid of that odor, it’s time to examine ways to prevent the smelly feet scent in the first place. An excellent preventative measure is using a foot odor product. These products are applied topically before putting on shoes and can be used daily, weekly, or occasionally to keep your feet odorless.
The effectiveness and quality of these products can vary significantly, so it’s important to choose something made with thoughtful ingredients. Lavilin offers two solutions, a shoe deodorant, and fragrance-free foot deodorant.
The shoe deodorant is applied to the interior of the shoes and removes the smell of bacterias or blocks it in the first place. The ingredients are carefully selected to ensure they do not clog your foot pores and are free of aluminum, alcohol, paraben, BHT or phthalates.
The fragrance-free foot deodorant is applied directly to your feet. The ingredients are gentle, even on sensitive feet, but still, stand up to odor-causing bacterias through showering, sports, and physical activities.
Open shoes, feet in the pool, and barefoot beach walks are quintessential summer moments. Make smelly feet an afterthought so you can take advantage of all summer has to offer.
