Foot odour ruining my confidence

LegacyUser

Embarrassing problem - I've got bad foot odour and it's really getting me down! I’ve tried every conceivable deodorant/anti perspirant spray (they either have no effect or just mix with the smell), tried odour eating insoles, 'breathable' shoes, leather shoes, anti-bacterial soap, tried wearing all sorts of socks including 100% cotton (strangely these give the worse results for me!). I tried the net, but could find no other solution. I never wear the same shoes 2 days in a row, I actually leave it about a week before wearing them again!

After buying new shoes they become smelly after a while and I can't wear them any more. People laugh at how many shoes I have but it’s because I have to keep buying new ones, as they stink up in no time (I've spent hundreds of euro on shoes!) I spend at least 5 minutes in the shower cleaning my feet to get them smelling fresh, I do everything right, but as the day goes on they're sweating profusely.

I find it especially distressing at work, as I'm in an office and the windows are always closed, hardly any air circulating and I can actually get the odour myself. I suppose it doesn't help that I have to walk about 45 minutes to get in to work. I even sometimes avoid taking a walk at lunch time as my feet will just sweat more.

I'm at my wit's end here, is there anything else I can try to fight this?

John Mason

Okay, this is so easy to fix.

the smell is caused by bacteria and Tea Tree Oil is an anti fungal and anti bacterial agent.

go to the chemist get yourself some Tea Tree Oil and some Cotton Wool.

Go home.

Put a few drops of Tea Tree Oil on the Cotton Wool and rub all over your feet making sure to rub in between the toes.

do this once a day for two weeks and the odour will be gone.

You could also to get a basin of hot water and add a few drops of the oil in to the water and soak your feet.

Trust me on this, it really works.

Tea Tree oil is a magic Oil is fixes nearly everything

Sleipnir

Smelly bloke wrote: »

Embarrassing problem - I've got bad foot odour and it's really getting me down! I’ve tried every conceivable deodorant/anti perspirant spray (they either have no effect or just mix with the smell), tried odour eating insoles, 'breathable' shoes, leather shoes, anti-bacterial soap, tried wearing all sorts of socks including 100% cotton (strangely these give the worse results for me!). I tried the net, but could find no other solution. I never wear the same shoes 2 days in a row, I actually leave it about a week before wearing them again!

After buying new shoes they become smelly after a while and I can't wear them any more. People laugh at how many shoes I have but it’s because I have to keep buying new ones, as they stink up in no time (I've spent hundreds of euro on shoes!) I spend at least 5 minutes in the shower cleaning my feet to get them smelling fresh, I do everything right, but as the day goes on they're sweating profusely.

I find it especially distressing at work, as I'm in an office and the windows are always closed, hardly any air circulating and I can actually get the odour myself. I suppose it doesn't help that I have to walk about 45 minutes to get in to work. I even sometimes avoid taking a walk at lunch time as my feet will just sweat more.

I'm at my wit's end here, is there anything else I can try to fight this?

How old are you and what kind of shoes do you buy? Tell me it's not trainers!

Sleipnir

Tea tree oil is very good alright, but I use a multi-pronged attack for foot odour (my feet are like nuclear reactors)

First, you need these and only these ones.
The scholl ones are no good and even the Odor-Eaters "Super-Tuff" last about a fortnight in my shoes before they start to literally fall to pieces. Extra is what you need.
I use two pairs of the Odor-Eaters Extra in each pair of shoes.
Remove them each night to allow then to dry.
They are machine washable and you should wash them every two weeks.
I also wear two pairs of socks whenever possible. You want what ever is around your feet so soak up all the sweat and keep it away from your feet.

Also, stay out of your shoes as much as possible and when you're not wearing them, stuff your shoes with newspaper or kitchen paper to soak up the moisture. When you're get home wash your feet, tea-tree them and then a pair of thick woolly socks is what you need.

Buy good quality shoes. No runners or trainers. Leather shoes work for me (and gore-tex lined boots with again, two pairs of Odor Eaters Extra in them).

For work I buy Churches which are quite expensive but they are all leather (rubber sole) and they last years if you treat them right. When they wear out, you can send them back to the factory and they'll re-sole them and you practically get a new shoe back.

nesbitt

Go to your GP and have this problem properly diagnosed.

I lived with a partner years ago, who said he had a foot odour problem, the guys feet never ever smelled! He was meticulous about his personal care routine. He had 'Hyper Hydrosis' (spelling probably wrong, sorry) of the feet.

It was vital he wore100% cotton socks or as close a blend as possible, no more than 5% other materials in the socks, M&S do these at a good price in multi packs but check the % on the pack of sock carefully. Leather soled shoes and most importantly leather lined on the inside of your shoes. If in doubt there is a sticker on all shoes showing what materials the sole and inner lining is made from, check this carefully. More expensive but the difference to your feet as they can breathe is enormous. Check out Clarks, Ecco, Geox Rockport and good shoe shops in general, ask for leather shoes with a leather lining and sole, be particular, buy in the sales if you on a budget (who isn't eh). Only wear trainers in the gym or whilst doing sport and have a couple of pairs and wash them on the 'sports shoe cycle' at low temp using excel gel etc.

Foot wash routine using 'tea tree' as other poster said is excellent. Ask GP about the use of 'Canestan' cream available over the counter as an treatment to rid feet of bacteria, usually used for thrush but it is an anti-fungal.

Your smelly feet will be a thing of the past with these simple changes. All the best.

Cianos

Have a read through this for good home remedies to tackle body odour.

LegacyUser

Guys,

Thanks for all the help, seriously I would hand over my life savings to be rid of this problem, it bothers me that much (only have few hundred euro though ).

Irishbird - I will try the tea tree oil, I hope it works. Tbh any anti bacterial creams or oils I've used already tend to either just not work or just mix with the odour.

Sleipner - I mainly wear shoes, not trainers. I wear leather shoes to work. The odour always seems to be most noticeable at work. I'll give the Odor Eaters Extra a go, do you know where I can get them? Boots sell Odor Eaters but I don't think they do the Extra type.
I see you wear 2 pairs of socks - I could give this a try, but would this not make my feet warmer and create a 'less breathable' environment?

Nesbitt, you mentioned wearing 100% cotton socks, tbh these are least effective for me. I wear these thick Wilson socks from Penneys that are 80% cotton, 20% polyester and these are the best I've found so far. I find that the thin ones are no good, they just get soaking wet with sweat. You recommended leather lined shoes, however I find that a fabric lining like this works best for me.

http://www.dchemet.net/lining-materials.html#shoe-fabrics

Thanks everyone, I'll give your ideas a try!

underlay

I had the same problem when I was your age and tried everthing,what I found best was surgical alcohol.You can buy it from the chemist,apply it with cotton wool.It really worked and its cheap.
Happy to say when I hit my late twenties my feet started to behave themselves.

LegacyUser

If you have a fungal infection - either athletes foot or a fungal infection of the toenails (are your nails discoloured or brittle or flaky?) - these can be hard to shift and you might need some heavy-duty medical treatment - the nail treatment for example can take 6 months of daily application to completely clear it. It is worth it though, as they are a big factor in that typical cheesy foot smell. This is a different smell to just sweat. However even if your feet are simply sweating too much, this will create a moist environment which can allow the fungal infections to take hold, too.
I really would cut out the polyester mix socks and stick to 100% cotton - how about bringing a spare pair and changing them during the day at work? Then the stale sweat is not sitting on your feet being warmed up all day.
I get the impression that men are often reluctant to go to the doctor over something like this that is not a life or death medical issue. At least try a pharmacist, they will also be able to recognise nail infection and they will then let you know if you need to go the doctor for the heavy-duty prescription stuff.

LegacyUser

Mods, this isn't a pish take, please don't delete, let the OP have a read.

I got a horrible infection in the tropics. My feet were wet and stinking, couldn't get rid of it. Someone even mentioned it in work when I got back. I tried everything, odour eaters, different footwear, tablets, creams, powder.... I went back to the jungle again and got this advice from a native guy who worked in the jungle.

Piddle on your feet! I am not messing, this cured everything. He reckoned we evolved piddling on our feet for thousands of years and now, relatively recently (on a broad scale) we have started wearing shoes and our feet misses the odd dose of urine being splashed on them.

So, pee on your feet in the shower and use tea tree powder after, it should clear up in a few weeks. Keep peeing on your feet to keep infection away.

Wibbs

Funny I've heard same TBH. Apparently good for athletes foot I gather. Kills the fungus, something about the acidity IIRC I heard a diluted vinegar foot bathing solution has a similar effect.

LegacyUser

Thanks for letting that through mods, it's not a joke.

Just to add OP, the infection spread to my toes, yellow and very sore, distorted and ended up with ingrown toenails. The peeing sorted that out too.

Also, I started wearing 100% cotton socks, ouder eaters, tea trea powder (health shop) and socks only when I was home. Best of luck op, it can be pretty embarrassing.

d'Oracle

nesbitt wrote: »

Go to your GP and have this problem properly diagnosed.

This, twice.

Seriously.
An old flatmate of mine had similar trouble.

Tea tree and all that is great but if its bad go to a GP.

John Mason

d'Oracle wrote: »

This, twice.

Seriously.
An old flatmate of mine had similar trouble.

Tea tree and all that is great but if its bad go to a GP.

well, i had a friend and he took off his shoes my stomach would turn and i would vomit a little in my mouth. he spent a fortune on powders and sprays and all that marlarkey.

i handed him a bottle of tea tree oil one day and two weeks not a wiff - 18 months later still no wiff

Snowie

Admin and mods im direct this at you because what im about to say will some what question i posted it in the gentlemens room before... so Im posting it again


Op I used to work as chef, 12 hours aday in sneakers i used to come home some days and ring my socks dry they smelt that bad.
this continued for a number of years. My mum heard on the radio that Urine has a driect link to killing of the bacteria at some stages I couldnt walk my feat hurt that bad and stunk.

So after trying various creams powders and the tea bag saloution I thought what the hell.

I baught my self a basin/ baby milton to cleen it out and after the said action bath which is only five minutes id wash my feel thourilly then dry and air for an hour.

I continued doing this for a week, with in a week my feet stoped smelling completely!

I realise it sounds a bit weird/disgusting/unhyginic but it does work and works very well i think certain bacteria in the unrine attacks the chease bacteria that creates the smell, and allows the skin to regrow?, Im not intirley sure but my feet dont smell
any more and if it works.

I realise and know how embarissing it is to have smelly feet and they can really hurt to This isnt a joke.

also it s good idea to change your shoes ie have 3 different pairs another good thing to do. Hope this helps