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What Causes Stinky Feet?

Stinky feet, like all body odor, can be embarrassing but not untreatable. The causes of foot odor come from sweat glands that regulate body temperature, and the intensity of the odor can vary from person to person depending on a variety of factors.

  1. Chill Out, Its Just Sweat

    • Sweating is the process of the body's biological temperature system cooling you during physical activities or uncomfortable heat and is caused when the autonomic nervous system stimulates your body's sweat glands.

    Types of Sweat Glands

    • The body has two types of sweat glands: the apocrine glands, which develop in hair follicles, and eccrine glands, which open through the skin's surface.

    What's That Smell?

    • Foot odor occurs when the apocrine glands secrete a fatty sweat into the tubule of the gland, which is pushed to the skin's surface. The sweat is odorless, but when secreted bacteria on the skin's surface break down the fat and other chemicals found in the sweat it, causes the odor.

    Factors of Foot Odor

    • Bromidrosis, or strong body odor, varies from person to person and can be influenced by one's mood, diet, certain drugs, medical conditions and hormone levels.

    Got a Stink? Here's a Sink.

    • Foot odor can be reduced by using antibacterial soap and baby powder in combination with regular bathing and clean socks.

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