Foot odor

Foot odor is a type of body odor that affects the feet of humans and is generally considered to be an unpleasant smell.

Cause

Foot odor often results from wearing shoes and/or socks, especially shoes or socks with inadequate air ventilation, for many hours. Since human feet are densely covered with sweat glands, excessive perspiration of the feet is the result. Hair on the feet, especially on the toes, may also add to odor intensity by adding increased surface area for the bacteria to thrive in. Men usually have smellier feet than do women, because their feet are often times much larger and sometimes hairier.

Since socks directly contact feet, their composition can have an impact on foot odor. Polyester and nylon are common materials used to create socks, but don't provide as much ventilation as cotton, another common sock material, so wearing polyester or nylon socks may increase perspiration and therefore may intensify foot odor. [ [http://www.epodiatry.com/smelly-foot.htm Smelly Feet (Foot Odor)] "ePodiatry.com"] Since socks absorb varying amounts of perspiration from feet, wearing shoes without socks may increase the amount of perspiration contacting feet and thereby increase bacterial activities that cause odor. People wearing nylon stockings or pantyhose may experience increased foot odor.

Odor qualities

The quality of foot odor is often reported as a thick, cheesy smell. Some describe the smell like that of malt vinegar, but can sometimes be ammonia-like. Foot odor can sometimes be caused by wearing the same socks too many times in a row and sweating. "Brevibacteria" are considered a major cause of foot odor, as they ingest dead skin on the feet, especially on the soles and between the toes, converting in the process the amino acid methionine to methanethiol which has a sulfuric aroma. The brevibacteria is also what gives cheeses such as Limburger, Bel Paese, Port du Salut, and Muenster their characteristic pungency (a sharp acrid smell). [ [http://www.wheatoncollege.edu/Quarterly/q2003fall/bacteria.html Betsy's Bacteria] "Wheaton College Quarterly"]

In addition, propionic acid (propanoic acid) is also present in many foot sweat samples. This acid is a breakdown product of amino acids by "Propionibacteria", which thrive in the ducts of adolescent and adult sebaceous glands. As propionic acid is chemically structured similarly to acetic acid producing similar physical characteristics including odors, this may account for the foot odors identified as being vinegar-like smell by certain persons. Isovaleric acid (3-methyl butanoic acid) is the other source of foot odor as a result of actions of the bacteria "Staphylococcus epidermidis" [http://rparticle.web-p.cisti.nrc.ca/rparticle/AbstractTemplateServlet?journal=cjm&volume=52&year=&issue=&msno=w05-130&calyLang=eng "Foot odor due to microbial metabolism and its control"] , which is also present in several strong cheese types.

Prevention

Among the earliest foot deodorants were aromatic herbs such as allspice, which nineteenth-century Russian soldiers would put in their boots. Some types of powders and activated charcoal insoles, such as Odor Eaters, have been developed to combat foot odor by keeping the feet dry.cite web|url=http://www.footsmart.com/Foot-Hygiene-Foot-Odor-Remedy.aspx|title=Foot Odor Remedy|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=FootSmart] Hygiene is considered important in avoiding odor,cite web|url=http://www.footphysicians.com/what-is/ns_foot-odor.htm|title=Foot Odor (Bromhydrosis)|accessdate=2008-06-18|date=2006-09-14|publisher=FootPhysicians] as well as avoiding synthetic shoes/socks, [cite web|url=http://www.podiatryvic.com.au/Public/Facts4.htm|title=Foot Odour|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=Australian Podiatry Association] rotating pairs of shoes [cite web|url=http://www.carefair.com/Body/Foot_Odor_1662.html |title=Treating Foot Odour|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=CareFair] and soaking feet in a tub of ice tea. [cite web|url=http://www.oprah.com/health/oz/oz_20070426_350_110.jhtml|title=Dr Oz. Answers A Question About Stopping Smelly Feet|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=Oprah.com] [cite web|url=http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/87.cfm|title=Symptoms, Their Causes & Cures Foot Odor|accessdate=2008-06-18|publisher=MotherNature]

Reactions to foot odor

People grow up believing foot odor is unpleasantOr|date=March 2008, making people embarrassed about how their feet smell. For this reason, in Western countries, where shoes are worn for most of the day, some people avoid removing their shoes around others. Reactions to foot odor vary across cultures; for example, there is less foot odor stigma in countries where shoes are removed upon entering the homeOr|date=April 2008. (For a more detailed discussion of this topic, see shoes.)

Although most people find the scent of feet unpleasant, some people find smelling feet sexually arousing. This can be part of a foot fetish or an obsession. Some people also have fetishes for the sock or shoe scent that usually accompanies warm feet (for example as part of a shoe fetish) or foot worship fetish.

See also

* Mysophilia
* Body odor
* Foot hair
* Shoes
* Odor Eaters

References