Twin Falls Podiatrists Have Tips for Helping Student Athletes Avoid Smelly Feet
There are more sweat glands in our feet than anywhere else in our bodies. But as you know, often where there’s sweat, there’s odor, and no one knows this better than student athletes who play hard. At Canyon Foot + Ankle, we receive a lot of visits from athletes who want to ensure they receive a fast, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for whatever is causing their feet to stink. Here’s what you should know.
Causes of Smelly Feet
Athletes aren’t the only people who struggle with foot odor—this problem can happen to anyone, including kids. Athletes just tend to experience it often because they’re more likely to encounter some of the typical reasons for it, including but not limited to: 
- Sweaty shoes that don’t get a chance to dry out between wearings
- Footwear made with fabrics that don’t breath well
- Rewearing dirty socks
- Hormonal changes
- Not washing feet often enough or thoroughly enough
- Bacteria that live on the feet
- Spending long periods of time standing
- Stress and anxiety that increase sweating
- Genetic factors
- Tight-fitting shoes
- Diseases such as hyperhidrosis that prompt more sweating on your feet, hands, armpits, and face
- Different types of medication that have sweating as a side effect
- Certain foods like garlic and spicy foods that can seep through the pores
Walking barefoot on a locker room floor, pool deck, or gym floor increases the risk of student athletes catching different types of fungal diseases, such as athlete’s foot or fungal toenails. A foul odor is often a symptom of both of these conditions, too.
Ways to Prevent Foot Odor
Generally, as long as there’s not an underlying health reason, a combination of sweat plus microorganisms that thrive in moist environments is why you have stinky feet. When one or both of these conditions are removed, there doesn’t tend to be a smell.
So here are some of our foot doctors’ top recommendations to reduce unpleasant odors:
- Alternate your athletic shoes frequently so you always have a dry pair.
- Wash your shoes and their insoles as often as possible.
- Wear shoes and socks that contain breathable materials. Socks should be cotton or otherwise moisture-wicking. Choose footwear made with leather, fabric, and mesh.
- Put on clean socks every day and change them whenever your feet get sweaty.
- Wash your feet with soap and water every day, and dry thoroughly, especially between toes.
- Keep toenails clean and trimmed.
- Go barefoot when inside your home to allow your feet to dry.
- Wear protective footwear whenever you’re in a communal space where other people walk barefoot.
- Take breaks from standing periodically while working.
- Sleep without socks on.
