So my feet start to sweat and i tried all kinds of remidies and by the way im 17 years old. When i go to school my feet start sweating and it smell so bad even with my shoes on. Plus i wash my feet everyday with anti-bacterial soap.Its embarrassing that no one want to sit close to me. I just bought new shoes too n the smell still the same. Can anyone help me. please and thank you
Need help and opinion about why my feet stink with shoes on?
Question posted by Alfon on 20 April 2012
Last updated on 15 April 2024
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
37 Answers Page 2
yellowcoconut
2 April 2018
First and foremost go to a dermatologist/podologist and figure out the true cause of the issue. Is the odor due to bacterial overgrowth, oversweating or fungi? Perhaps a combination of all three?
Nonetheless here are some tips to eliminate odor:
General:
Socks: Wear only merino wool socks or other very good drywicking socks. It's more expensive but scientifically proven to absorb more sweat than cotton, wool or anything else out there. Always wash socks and linens at 60 degrees to ensure all bacterias are eliminated.
Shoes: Wear geox shoes, or make sure the material is breathable like leather shoes. Atleast deinfect once a week with 70% alcohol that you spray inside the shoes. Also make sure you to never same shoes without letting it dry a day minimum.
Insoles: Use cedar wooden soles. It's the best insoles out there as its also antibacterial.
Hygiene: Wash feet twice a day with Hibiscrub. (antibacterial soap with chlorexhidine thats active against bacterias hours after washing)
Extra: For a whole month have zinc pills 50 mg/day. And as powder in the shoes either you can use zinc oxide powder (this is the main ingredient of On your toes product, but way cheaper) or boric acid powder (though be careful to not inhale nor ingest as not super healthy for you). Drink black thee once a day.
Then ask yourself if this is a bacterial overgrowth, fungus or sweat problem. Best to always check with a dermatologist!!
Bacterial overgrowth: If you have pits and there's odor likely you have pitted keratolyse. Sometimes you can have it without the pits though affected with the odor. For 1 month 3 times a day use fucidin lotion and always change socks with every application. Have erothrymycin pills prescribed for 2 weeks at same time.
Sometimes anti acne lotion can help such as clindamycin or benzac 10% helps . The bacterias causing zits can sometimes be same bacetrias causing smell.
Fungus: Check for topical antifungus like clotrimazole and lower sugar intake.
Sweat: Apply strong anti perpirant (15–20% aluminium chloride). If no help check iontophoresis with glycopyronium bromide (this is a pill you crush into the tray per feet to strengten the drywicking results). Last solution is a surgery but only if you have plantar hyperhidrosis (it's called lumbar sympathetomy). In a couple of years maybe 2-3 years likely Miradry for feet would be on the market. Also interesting.
For most people above rules should help. If none, check use of probiotic liquid on feet before sleeping and taking probiotic pills. Not sure on research of this but the idea is inoculating your feet with "good non smelly bacteria". If not there's a new product on the market, Lume it's called, though not tried yet. The thing why I find it interesting is that it claims to alter the process where the bacterias "eats dead skin and farts" the bad odor.
Does anybody have pungent feet odor? So not cheesy, not vinegary... just immensely pungent odor? This is what I have and unfortunately no solution yet.
Type a message...
Smellyshoes21
2 March 2018
How's everyone doing? Please let me know if you got control over the problem or if you have found a solution of it.
Suedan
19 March 2018
Hi I still have not been able to be rid of the smell. I tried Drysol several times for months at a time but it didn't work for me. I really am at a loss as to what to do next and am slipping further and further into isolation as trying to deal with a problem that no one understands and is dismissed by doctors and other medical practitioners has affected my mental health. Without some type of solution this is unbearable. I really wish I could find something to fix this for all of us.
Smellyshoes21
20 March 2018
Yes man I feel you. Drysol would cover the problem by 90% (at least in my case) but once I go off drysol it returns.
I would suggest that you strengthen the drysol solution you are applying and apply it right before you wear your shoes with clean feet.
If that doesn't work, then start wearing leather shoes (while having drysol) because shoes that are made out of cheap materials will make the problem worse.
I also noticed that my feet heat up really fast inside the shoes and that's what causes the energy to be transferred outside and cause the smell of the material I'm wearing or it may be the pores of my feet that are overstimulated as a result of previous long years of sweating.
Tejac
22 March 2018
I have the same problem, Does Drysol really work?
scatch
10 Jan 2018
Right - I have had issues on this matter for years. It drives me nuts, it became a real issue once I began working in an office. Like others on here, my feet do not smell out of the shoe and my socks dont smell after wearing them, nor do my shoes. However not long after i wear my shoes (which i swap every day) ghe smell starts wafting up and gets progressively worse as the day goes on. I absolutely hate being close to anyone and cant tell if others can smell it. Needless to say it drive me nuts and is distracting.
I've tried everything, none of the powders or insoles work. I have been to the DR and podiatrist with no answers. None of my family believe me and think I'm making it up, Im 100% not. Its mad not being believed.
I managed to get hold of some topical ethro mycin, this worked almost immediately. I felt like a new man. It didnt last, within two weeks the smell came back, I fear the bacteria on my feet became immune. I kept researching and came across fusidic acid and the same thing occurred.
I have had mixed results with benzoyl peroxide (an over the counter acne remedy). It basically takes the top layer of skin off (whilst bleaching your clothes, towels etc). I have also found a Ped Egg useful to removed dead skin. I still dont seem to have a handle on it though and some days the smells awful. I genuinely feel its holding my career back.
Has anyone tried or have experience of the above? thanks
Smellyshoes21
10 Jan 2018
I also have the same problem. However, after years of embarrassment I started to have control over it. The only way you could stop that is by DRYSOL, I am amazed that none of the doctors prescribed it. We do have bromhidrosis (even tho I never went to a doc cause I couldn't afford it) so I did a research and figured by deep studying of my case that we may have this. Also, my feet skin is really sensitive toward plastic and leather materials to a degree where an open slipper will cause my feet to smell if I wear it.
What you should do is get drysol 20% strength and apply every night and every time you wear shoes. After one week start applying it only before wearing shoes and trust me you will never smell your fert throughout your shoes at all. It may still be there but only 5%
And please note that if you go off drysol you will have the smell again so you have to keep using it.
Good luck!!
Moengl1221
19 Feb 2018
Where can I get DRY Sole 20% please share the link.
Smellyshoes21
2 March 2018
Moengel I have posted a comment containing the link. It said it requires an approval from the website to accept it. It may be deleted cause it might be taken as ad. Just go to Amazon and type in 20% Drysol. Please even though I am sharing this info I am no doctor. Simply a guy who had been sick of a horrible experience. I tried everything and it never worked the only thing that works is Drysol.
Good luck on that.
zekethefreak21
15 Dec 2017
Alfron, have you found any solution to this problem? I have also been suffering with this curse since 2010 and it's breaking me down mentally.
Phili
14 July 2017
Alfon try taking zinc supplement and ON YOUR TOES foot powder.It has worked for many people with a problem like yours.I am living in Eritrea africa.I have a lot of problem to get ON YOUR TOES foot power and other things.But you can try those two things I am sure you will be happy again.And change your diet also.Try to eat vegetables and fruits,drink a lot of water...
If you do all these things you will see changes in a week or two.
rj78550
14 July 2017
How do you know this will work? Because are feet smell through are shoes!
Phili
15 July 2017
I know because I have read abt this problem for more than 6 years and my feet smell too and it only starts when I am in class or work.Most of these people with such kind of problem are cured by taking zinc.If you try everything to improve your smell and doesn't work it can be from zinc deficiency.It has helped many people.I am adding ON YOUR TOES foot powder because it has helped many people also.The third thing Changing your diet.This has also helped many ppl.read about TMAU you will understand what I am talking abt.TMAU is a different thing but they have same symptoms.This is my conclusion.Sorry for my English language.
I am just trying to help.I have never tried those things myself.Because I can not find them in my country or good quality product.Even the doctors don't understand this problem they will think it is only in our mind that we are thinking we smell.Read abt Those things yourself guys.I hope it works for you.
rj78550
19 July 2017
Ohh okay. And so i start changing my diet and start adding Foot Powder? And if yes what powder should i start with. And are you still dealing with this problem or no?
Smellyshoes21
21 Sep 2019
Phili do you know if TMAU can be in one body part? From what I have seen it’s usually in sweat coming from all parts of the body and even breath. However, for us only our feet are producing this pungent smell. In my case only my right foot.
rj78550
4 July 2017
Omg -_- i have the same problem im a 19 yr old boy going through all this yall talking about feet smell with or without shoes and ive tried EVERY foot powder and i went to go see a doctor and he prescribed me drysol but that worked for the sweat not the odor and its driving me crazy please help someone. One more big thing that i think it is and havent tried ok... This is gonna be a little rude but dont take it offensive. I am chubby (obese) so... Maybe yall if yall could comments yalls weight or just tell me if yall are obese or not. Because that could be the case on why are feet smell bad with and without shoes because ive been doin hardcore research on this and it says obesity could cause this too happen. And i forgot to mention ive been dealing withing this for barely 8 months i would love to get this over with. And i read the comments and someone said 15 years OMG that crazy. BUT PLEASE HELP.
Giatiemena2017
22 June 2017
Hi,
To say I understand what you are going through is an understatement! I am 32 years old and have had this problem for over 15 years. I am so embarrassed and depressed by it that it has had an enormous effect on my life. I can not keep a job or do normal things that people do because of my feet smell. Let me elaborate:
I have been to so many doctors (GP, dermatologist, podiatrist) and no one can help me. My feet used to sweat a lot and smell a lot too! My sweating has gone down a bit now by using dryclor on my feet every night but the smelling problem is still there. I have tried every cream/powder/sock/shoe/insert to try and solve this problem and I can't. I do not have any sort of infection what so ever! I wash my feet numerous times a day, allowing them to dry, washing my shoes/rotating them etc. while changing socks at least 4 times a day. I am so embarrassed about it that I choose not to go anywhere to avoid the humiliation. Sorry forgot to mention I am a female.
My problem is that now my feet don't smell when I am not wearing shoes, it only happens when I have my shoes on. On top of that, my partner has just left me causing me to have anxiety issues which is making my problem even worse.
Today I went to see a dermatologist and he told me that it is all in my head! Like I don't have people saying my feet smell, nor that I can smell them myself! I am so close to breaking down mentally with everything that's going on that I am starting to get scared.
Sorry for the long rant but I totally understand what you are going through! I am really disappointed that I can not find any doctor that can help me.
I have considered botox on my feet but it is too expensive and I can't afford it. Lately, I have even looked at ETS surgery but it also is expensive and risky.
Please let me know if someone actually finds something that can help.
Also if anyone would like to message me for a chat I am here to listen, as I am too going through the same thing.
Thanks
Inactive
22 June 2017
Have you shared your situation with family members or a close friend. Like have you asked them if in fact your feet do smell
Giatiemena2017
22 June 2017
Yes, I have, even though it took me a long time to get through the embarrassment. This is not in my head, it is an actual problem. I am seriously gonna ask my GP tomorrow if I can get some anticholinergics prescribed for me and see if that works.
Giatiemena2017
22 June 2017
It's actually hard to explain as my feet don't seem to smell when I don't have shoes on. It only happens when I wear shoes.
Inactive
22 June 2017
You can add me to your friend list if you want to explain further. The comments won't have to go thru moderation and the thread won't get too long.
Suedan
25 June 2017
I am not sure if anyone is still posting but I have the exact same problem. My feet smell terrible whilst wearing any sort of footwear even sandles. I have been to every doctor but have been told countless times it is all in my head and to a degree they are right as I believe that it is caused or manifests by anxiety. I believe it is a physical problem that becomes all consuming due to the anxiety. I have had this problem for many, many years and it utterly destroys your life, forget going out to dinner, weddings, the movies, friends houses, even just shopping, every normal activity is a nightmare. Please let me know if anyone has found any answers, this is a living nightmare.
Inactive
11 June 2017
For whatever reason I can't post the second part of my answer. However, of you add me to your friend list I can send you my complete answer. All the best.
Inactive
8 June 2017
I believe I have the answer to your problem and it is only because of first hand experience why I am able to suspect that you and some of the other posters here might be suffering from a very rare disorder or delusion. Please read with an open mind because I too was VERY skeptical and doubtful about this in the beginning. Some of the other posters may actually have some type of foot odor condition and so the following information does not apply to them. This post will be split in two (the second part will be placed as a response to the first) since it’s too long to be a single post.
I think you may have what is called Olfactory Reference Syndrome. Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) is a condition whereby an individual is chronically obsessed with the belief that they emit an offensive body odor which the individual confirms based on the perceived reactions of others and leads to abnormal social behavior. I will post links to research papers below and you should especially focus on the clinical case/report sections. But PLEASE read everything, knowledge is power and you will get a better grasp of the condition. The experience might be very similar to yours as it was to mine. Like you, I had eventually concluded that I might have Plantar Bromhidrosis but I realized later that that was not the case. I had all the symptoms you guys have described: smelly feet with or without shoes, smell could be detected from a distance, depression, socially withdrawn, anxiety, tried every possible solution, etc.
Sometimes, and I am not sure why, but our brains will force us to believe that something is real even by stimulating our senses to make us think that we smell, see or hear things that are not real. I have strong reason to believe that you have absolutely NO persistent, foul-smelling feet odor and that it is all made up in your mind. The sooner you realize this, the earlier you can seek help or treatment and save yourself many years of unnecessary suffering. I endured this condition or delusion for 9 years! From age 14 to 23. Years that I will never get back. I suffered from this dreadful thing called ORS and even after I discovered my condition it was hard for me to let go of it. But in time, you will get back to normal as long as you stay positive and keep assuring yourself that there is NO smell.
People around you may seem like they are avoiding you or are disgusted by you but remember that this is an assumption that you are making in your head. You most likely have never gotten CONCRETE PROOF that you actually do have a constant foul foot odor. It is all made up in your mind because you choose to analyze things only from your perspective. I have reasoned that maybe it began when a person had a severe case of anxiety at the same time with an incident where there was actually a bad smell coming from the person. Thus, due to the humiliation, the person was left traumatized and a false notion of having a bad odor was planted in the mind even after the initial bad smell was long gone. Due to ORS, whenever I was in the presence of other people I was constantly anxious and concerned that they could smell my “awful feet odor”. I took anything as a sign that they could smell it and were disgusted by it to confirm my false beliefs. For example, people rubbing their noses, people sneezing, people putting their hands over their noses, someone moving to another seat, people choosing to sit somewhere away from me, people looking down and making facial expressions of disgust, etc. But in fact, I had NO certainty about any of these assumptions I was making, NO way to actually prove without a doubt that they were in fact behaving this way in response to a bad smell coming from me. NONE OF IT WAS REAL. It was only real in my mind because I was so fearful of it being true that I looked for ways to justify it.
Continued below...
Smellyshoes21
8 June 2017
If people around you start smelling it it's not fun anymore lol
Alfon
7 June 2017
Hello guys Im really thankful and amaze how all of you guys come along and answer my question. My last response was 2014 and it was 3 years ago and nothing changes with my problem and it still the same. It have been 5 years and everyday and every night I think about it in my sleep of how embarassed I am meeting new people. I have a job and I go to school ( mostly online class ). And Yes i gave up because I tried everything and not think about what other people says or think about me and how I smell even though I shower everyday and take care of my feet. I been to a doctor but not a dermatologist because its too expensive and I cant afford a visit with them. Anyways the past week I thought about it and thinking about it 24/7 and i research a lot about it every night and I think I FOUND my problem. I think I have a PLANTAR BROMHIDROSIS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU TREATED IT AND DID IT GO AWAY? I know its part of sweating alot called Hyperhidrosis and 3 years ago the doctor gave me a prescription of the sweating and tried it but it never worked cause it still smells so foul. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HELP THIS COMMUNITY GIVE ME HOPE AND I WISH I COULD JUST FIX MY FEET FOUL ODOR SMELL PROBLEM.
- ALFON
Smellyshoes21
7 June 2017
I was notified on my email by your reply and I will happily share with you how I got rid of it. It sucked my whole life for two years so guess what yes we do have bromhidrosis and the way you can stop that is by basically using Drysol. Yes as simple as it may be you have to make sure that you keep your feet dry and in winter to avoid wearing canvas cause once your shoes are wet your feet get wet and the smell goes out. So buy Drysol and apply before you go to sleep and you could still do it before wearing shoes it doesn't really matter ( leave your feet for ten minutes till Drysol gets dry) I do it everyday now and I swear to god I have not seen that problem anymore!!!
Alfon
8 June 2017
Thank you for answering i will definitely try it and give u updates...
gregreaver
2 Nov 2017
Hey man I feel your pain. I have suffered with planter bromhidrosis as long as I can remember.
Here is what helped me. Now these things have helped at times for months to 2 days. I believe alot has to do with activity. First pumice stone. Use it on the soles of feet. The first time I used it it lasted for months then came back. I got to where it would only work for 2 days then odor came back. I'd I use it again and would'nt help. I'd wait 4-5 days and use it again and it would work for 2 days.
Buy and replace the stone often. Also put rubbing alcohol on soles of feet. Get a spray bottle and spray shoes with alcohol. They also have uv light devises to sterilize shoes. I just ordered one. Also something called peet-dry made for drying shoes. change socks 2-3 times a day and use alcohol on soles every time you change socks. Try these things and hope it works
Sean12345
15 Jan 2017
I am not sure if someone will read this or not but i was in the same situation where i have plantar hyperhidrosis and people could smell my foot odor 20 feet away. First i went to a dermatologist to treat my excessive sweating, so i got botox done but botox didn't help me at all after the botox, i was prescribed robinul and unfortunately sweating continued. The sweating for me is not a problem, it is the smellbthat was the problem so i stopped worrying about the sweat and started focusing on the odor. I was prescribed drysol to apply every night, i startrd using that and unfortunately that didn't work for me either. I still apply drysol every night but i started using zinc 50 mg tablets from cvs pharmacy and also started applying zinc oxide 20% cream from cvs. I onlybused it for a week and the odor is completely gone, i have been to multiple different podiatrist to smell my feet and they all said that i dont have the foot odor anymore.
One thing to consider is that their is also something called olfactory reference syndrome, first make sure that you don't have this syndrome as either i really didn't have the foot odor and i was precieving i did or i did have it and i don't have it anymore. I have had multiple family and friends who have smelled my foot and slso my shoes to make sure there is c absolutely no odor and tgese are people with very sensitive noses. I have one final (2nd popodiatrist) to see on tuesday
and if he can confirm that i have no foot odor than i should be good to go. One thing when i had my family and friends smell my shoes, i actually wore the same v shoes c and socks for 2 days in a row and they v still confirmed no odor
Sean12345
15 Jan 2017
One thing i also wanted to mention is that one of the family members who smelled my feet and shoes is the type of guy who almost threw up because the guy who was 2 feet away smelled really bad so i hope this helps atleast someone on this post, good luck to whoever try this. One more thing is they will tell you to wrap your feet in saran wrap, the first night i put on drysol and put saran wrap, when i took off the saran wrap in the morning, there was literally a river of sweat in there so do not put on the saran wrap because what is the point of the medicine to nake you stop sweating if its going to make you sweat tge v whole night, good luck to all
sudzius30
12 April 2017
Hi. My life was ruined because of this. Everyone keep their distance from me, because I stink. I have been battling this for 6years(im21 in one week) and since then I lost all my friends, went into deep depression and got even more health problems. When I saw that something worked for you I almost cried, thinking It could help me too. I'm glad you got rid of this problem. But I found unclear what you have been using what kind of tablets or cream. Could you please maybe send a link to what kind of drugs you are using exactly or maybe write a full name or something that could help me identify the drugs or maybe find very similiar alternative (because I'm neither from USA or UK and we might not have the exact drugs). I will not get into how the best years (15-20) of my life have been destroyed but I hope that I could change my future for the better with the help of you all.
Urgh my heart is pounding from anxiety and probably I won't sleep tonight thinking it might all end soon. P.S I have tried everything suggested here and many more techniques that "should" help me but they dont. Anyway thanks for sharing everybody.
Worldwarme
13 Dec 2016
Ok let me drop this load.
I am a barefoot kinda guy, first off.
I spend a lot of time in the country, I don't wear shoes during the summer months (if I have to go in a store etc.. I wear plastic sandals... ) =zero foot odor
During the winter though, oh gawd!
I put on a brand new pair of shoes and socks and by the end of the day there was a cloud following me that smelled of death.
In a few weeks I've tried 3 new pairs of shoes, they all reek within 24 hours. .
I've tried washing, cleaning, powder, deodorant etc...
My hands and feet sweat a lot.
The only way my feet don't stank is by breathing. I'm not talkin vented tennis shoes... I'm saying no shoes.
I understand this isn't a practical solution but it does work for me, going barefoot =no odor
Smellyshoes21
17 Sep 2016
Hi Alfon and everybody, last year in summer the exact same problem happened to me now it's one year since it first started.Same symptoms my feet smell with shoes on that I feel like chopping them off I am really lost and depressed :(
Have you found any solutions yet?
Inactive
25 Aug 2015
My shoes smell just as you described but my feet don't smell . I tried putting deodorant on my shoes using antiperspirants and even putting my feet in a ziplock bag so literally no sweat gets on the shoe but it still smells and I don't know what to do.What helped was putting a deodorant gel on the whole outside of the shoe by rubbing it on with my fingers. Did you try what "afterlife " mentioned in the comments I think it might work? I had this for a year now and I can't take it.
meshpro
16 June 2015
Odors are caused by reactions of the bacteria/fungi present on the foot. These organisms live in moist places, hence they will be especially problematic on sweaty feet. So I believe the key is in making the feet as dry as possible.
We do make an insole for keeping feet dry, you may wish to try it, its called meshpro insoles on amazon. They are basically a nylon polyester open mesh insole with huge air spaces in a mesh to promote maximum air circulation. If it doesn't help you can always return it. I would be interested to hear if it works for your particular severe problem. If you live outside the USA tell me, I will send you a pair free of charge.
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