Bad foot odor? Cure it with home remedies

The foot odor is a common problem known medically as bromhidrosis, and can be generated by bacteria found in warm, moist feet whose favorite place to multiply are the socks and shoes.

We have thousands of sweat glands on the soles of the feet. Sweat is composed of water, sodium chloride, fat, minerals and acids that are end products of metabolism of the body. Bacteria in these sweaty secretions decompose, generating the unpleasant odor. There may be other causes that aggravate as hormonal problems, additional stress and the use of some medications.

Besides having your shoes and clean socks, there are other natural and home remedies that can be used to treat this problem.

Sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate is used to eliminate foot odor. Deodorize your shoes spraying 1 to 2 teaspoons of sodium bicarbonate inside as this serves to absorb moisture and odors. You can also make a mixture with 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of dried sage leaves, store it in an airtight container and sprinkle 1 tablespoon in your shoe at night. In the morning, use footwear with the mixture and remove it at night and replace by a new supply. Another way to use the baking soda is through a foot bath. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a bowl of warm water. Submerge your feet every night for a month.

The apple cider vinegar

You can mix a little apple cider vinegar with hot water in a small tub and keep your feet in it for some time, about 10-15 minutes so do it several times a week. This will eliminate foot odor easily. You can also wash the socks in the water to remove odor effectively.

Black tea

If the foot odor problem has worsened, use hot water and tea bag therapy to get rid of it.

Soak your feet in black tea. Tannic acid, a component of tea is believed to have astringent properties which prevent excessively sweaty feet. To make a tea foot soak, strain 5 bags of black tea in 1 liter of boiling water. Allow to cool, place in a tub or container and dip your feet for about 20-30 minutes.

Antibacterial Soap

The best way to eliminate foot odor is to clean your feet with antibacterial soap and warm water regularly, at least twice a day. This will prevent odor caused by bacteria from reproducing.

Ginger

Add a piece of ginger in a handkerchief or a piece of gauze and immerse in a little hot water for a few minutes. Rub the ginger liquid on each foot every night after taking a shower. Try this for two weeks.

Baths while standing with Kosher Salt

If your feet sweat excessively, foot baths with Kosher salt (it has larger crystals than common table salt) can help eliminate the odor. Take some water in a tub and add some kosher salt on it. Mix well and enjoy soaking your feet for quite a while, after that, let the water dry and do not use more water for washing.

Avoid stress

Stress and anxiety increase sweat production, helping those little bacteria to feed further. If being stressed makes your feet smell bad, it's time to make some changes in your life or at least learn some stress reduction techniques and relaxation.

Eat wisely

The smell of the feet can also be related to the type of food you eat. If the intake of some strongly flavored things such as onions, peppers, garlic, etc., is high, the chances are that your feet smell even more. So stay away from these foods when you are planning to wear covered shoes for a long time.

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