Ask Well
Stinky Feet? Here’s How to Quell the Smell.
A mix of bacteria and sweat are likely to blame, experts say. But small changes can go a long way in reducing odors.
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Q: I live with someone who has really smelly feet. Why does this happen and what can they do about it?
Stinky feet are normal, especially for people who sweat a lot as a result of exercise, hot weather or shoes that don’t breathe. Stepping up foot care might be all someone needs to quell the smell. But that doesn’t make it easy to bring up.
“I see it all the time,” said Dr. Nicholas Butler, a podiatrist in Beachwood, Ohio. “People will even be embarrassed to come see me about it.”
If someone has bromhidrosis, the technical term for smelly feet and general body odor, sweat and bacteria are probably to blame, he said.
Sweat glands help regulate body temperature, and we have more of them in places like armpits, palms and the soles of the feet. But sweat alone doesn’t have an odor, Dr. Butler said. Bacteria feed off perspiration, producing acids that can make feet smell like cheese, sulfur or vinegar.
Why are some feet smellier than others?
If someone’s feet are moist all the time, even when they’re not active, or if they’re seeing condensation on the floor when they walk barefoot, there might be an underlying issue, Dr. Butler explained. For instance, plantar hyperhidrosis, a condition where hyperactive sweat glands cause excessive foot sweat, might be the culprit.
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