Sweaty feet

[tiffanyloves]

Hi all,
I am not sure I can post this question here but I have sweaty feet alot of my shoes smell 'cheesy' as my boyfriend says, I like leather shoes but when I have worn them for sometime in the office my shoes smell, I have tried all sorts of remidies and foot lotions my feet are not ugly and I have a french pedicure every two weeks, do you think other shoes would be better for my feet and not hold the smell much?
Tiffany

[Nemtynakht]

I've been wondering the same thing! I've only noticed it recently. I keep my feet clean (or reasonably so, I shower daily and don't walk around barefoot outside ever or inside often). I've been noticing it lately with most of my sneaker-type shoes, the ones I don't wear socks with. I've never had this problem before, and it's starting to really bother me! So far I've been okay masking it with Odor Eaters, but I feel so disgraced by this turn of events.

[shoesense]

Ha! Funny! Or not. I find that this problem is exacerbated if I wear closed shoes without socks. Socks or nylons will usually alleviate the problem. Also, yes, daily showers + an extra foot bath done regularly will minimize sweatiness/odor over time.

I read somewhere that the average foot perspires 1 pint (of sweat!) per day. Is that 2 pints (1 quart) for the pair of them? Either way, that's...um... A LOT! And we can't help it. Women also have twice more pores/sweat glands than men (I think I read that somewhere, somebody back me up) so yeah.

The other thing you can do is use shoe trees like these:

(Available at Zappos, here.

They will absorb all that moisture and smell, protect the leather, retain the shape of the shoes, and your shoes will smell like roses. Or cedar. Whatever. My husband buys a pair of shoe trees for every pair of shoes and this is the only way he keeps them. He's been known to preserve shoes for 20+ years, so there is something to it.

The problem is that at almost $30 a pop, they're quite pricey. If you have 70+ pairs of shoes, like me, that would be a pretty sizable investment. There are less expensive versions--check your local Rite Aid for those, but I don't think they are less than $10-$15 each.

Otherwise, yes...constant foot hygiene, and wear some kind of socks with closed-toe shoes, is the only advice I can give. Oh, there are also some insole-liners that might absorb excess moisture, and some shoe stores give those away for free.

Oh, and I wonder if maybe some lower-quality leathers in shoes might exacerbate the problem? It's possible. I once had a pair of Liz Clairborne black slides (cheapo) which caused a noticeable stink--very embarrassing. I had to get rid of them in fact.

[shoesense]

I know this is a bit general, but I've noticed that diet is related to (1) how much you sweat, (2) whether your sweat stinks (it normally shouldn't). Here is a helpful page on this. This in particular seemed like pertinent advice (especially the "don't wear the same shoes 2 days in a row" advice):

________________
You can do a number of things on your own to reduce sweating and body odor. The following suggestions may help:

* Bathe daily. Regular bathing helps keep the number of bacteria on your skin in check.
* Dry your feet thoroughly after you bathe. Microorganisms thrive in the damp spaces between your toes. Use OTC foot powders to help absorb sweat.
* Choose shoes and socks made of natural materials. Shoes made of natural materials, such as leather, can help prevent sweaty feet by allowing your feet to breathe.
* Rotate your shoes. Shoes won't completely dry overnight, so try not to wear the same pair two days in a row if you have trouble with sweaty feet.
* Wear the right socks. Cotton and wool socks help keep your feet dry because they absorb moisture. When you're active, moisture-wicking athletic socks are a good choice.
* Change your socks often. Change socks or hose once or twice a day, drying your feet thoroughly each time. Women may try pantyhose with cotton soles.
* Air your feet. Go barefoot when you can, or at least slip out of your shoes now and then.
* Choose natural-fiber clothing. Wear natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk, which allow your skin to breathe. When you exercise, you might prefer high-tech fabrics that wick moisture away from your skin.
* Apply antiperspirants nightly. At bedtime, apply antiperspirants to sweaty palms or soles of the feet. Try perfume-free antiperspirants.
* Try relaxation techniques. Consider relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or biofeedback. These can help you learn to control the stress that triggers perspiration.
* Change your diet. If foods or beverages cause you to sweat more than usual or your perspiration to smell, consider eliminating caffeinated drinks from your diet as well as foods with strong odors, such as garlic and onions.

[Nemtynakht]

That's interesting. I usually avoid going barefoot -- I'd always figured that the dirt I'd pick up on the floor would contribute to foot odor. I never thought of it the other way around, that I wasn't letting my feet dry!