Foot odour
The foot has more sweat glands per square centimetre than any other part of the body, and it spends most of the day enclosed in a shoe.
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Medicines commonly prescribed for Foot odour
For informational purposes only. Always consult a doctor before taking any medication.
Dosage form: SHAMPOO, 15 mg/gActive substance: ciclopiroxManufacturer: Isdin S.A.Prescription requiredDosage form: SHAMPOO, 1.5% ciclopirox olamineActive substance: ciclopiroxManufacturer: Galenicum Derma S.L.U.Prescription requiredDosage form: NAIL POLISH, 80 mg/gActive substance: ciclopiroxManufacturer: Laboratorios Serra Pamies S.A.Prescription required
The foot has more sweat glands per square centimetre than any other part of the body, and it spends most of the day enclosed in a shoe. That is the entire mechanism: sweat that cannot evaporate, bacteria that break it down, and odour. It usually resolves with simple measures properly applied, and when it does not, there is a specific cause to look for.
Why it happens
- heavy sweating, whether normal or excessive;
- closed, synthetic, unventilated footwear;
- wearing the same pair every day without letting it dry;
- synthetic socks, or wearing none at all;
- skin bacteria that break down sweat and produce sulphur compounds;
- fungi: athlete's foot adds its own odour;
- stress, which triggers sweating;
- hormones: adolescence, pregnancy, the menopause;
- accumulated dead skin, which is what the bacteria feed on.
When there is something more behind it
- athlete's foot: scaling and cracks between the toes, with itching;
- pitted keratolysis: small pits on the sole and a very strong odour; a bacterial infection that responds to topical antibiotics and is frequently missed;
- fungal nail infection: thickened, discoloured nails;
- hyperhidrosis: sweating that soaks through socks several times a day;
- diabetes: it changes the skin and increases the risk of infection;
- hyperthyroidism;
- bacterial infection of a wound or an ingrown toenail.
What to do
Washing
- wash your feet daily with soap, scrubbing between the toes;
- dry them very thoroughly, especially between the toes: this is the step most people skip and the one that matters most;
- remove dead skin gently with a pumice stone a couple of times a week;
- cut nails straight across and keep them clean;
- foot soaks with salt, black tea or diluted vinegar two or three times a week: they help reduce sweat and bacteria.
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Socks and footwear
- socks of cotton, merino wool or technical fibres; never pure polyester;
- change them daily, and twice a day if you sweat heavily;
- wash them at 60 °C;
- alternate your footwear: a pair needs 24 hours to dry out completely. This is the most effective measure of all;
- take the insoles out so they dry;
- leather or breathable footwear, avoiding plastic;
- wear open footwear whenever you can;
- dry wet shoes before wearing them again;
- replace insoles regularly: they hold odour.
Products
- an aluminium-salt antiperspirant on the soles, applied at night to dry skin;
- absorbent powders or sprays in the morning;
- activated charcoal insoles;
- disinfectant sprays for the inside of footwear;
- putting shoes in a bag in the freezer overnight reduces bacteria, though it is a supplementary measure;
- antifungal powder if you are prone to fungal infection.
When to see a doctor
- the odour persists despite all these measures;
- there is scaling, cracking, itching or redness between the toes;
- there are small pits on the sole;
- the nails are thickened or discoloured;
- you sweat so much that it limits your daily life;
- there are wounds that will not close;
- you have diabetes: any foot problem deserves assessment;
- there is redness, swelling, warmth or fever — possible infection;
- the odour appeared abruptly.
Medical treatment
- topical or oral antifungals for athlete's foot and nail infection;
- topical antibiotic — clindamycin or erythromycin — for pitted keratolysis;
- prescription antiperspirants with aluminium chloride;
- iontophoresis for plantar hyperhidrosis;
- botulinum toxin in selected cases;
- oral anticholinergics for generalised hyperhidrosis;
- treatment of any underlying condition.
Common questions
Is it poor hygiene? Not necessarily. Many people wash daily and still have odour because of their sweating pattern and bacterial flora.
Why do only certain shoes smell? Because synthetic materials do not let sweat evaporate and hold the bacteria.
Does vinegar work? Diluted vinegar soaks help as an adjunct, but they do not replace drying and rotating footwear.
Do I have to throw shoes away? Rarely. If they are heavily impregnated and old, it is sometimes the most practical option.
Is it contagious? The odour is not. The athlete's foot that sometimes accompanies it is.
Online consultation
In an online consultation the doctor reviews photographs of your feet, identifies whether a fungal infection or pitted keratolysis lies behind the odour, distinguishes normal sweating from hyperhidrosis, advises on treatment and helps you set up a realistic footwear and sock routine.
This material is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation.
Medically reviewed by
Reviewed on Jul 23, 2026
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