Foot odor

　　The main cause of foot odor is a fungus called Trichophyton, also known as the Hong Kong foot fungus, which produces an unpleasant smell after decomposing skin metabolites.

　　Because the soles of the feet have more sweat glands than other parts. There are about 620 sweat glands per square centimeter on the soles of the feet, while the same area on other parts of the body only has 143 to 339. When people are more active, the weather is hot and humid, they are mentally stressed, or they eat spicy and hot food, sweat is secreted in large quantities. After sweating, the humidity and pH value inside the shoe provide a suitable growth environment for bacteria, and the dead keratin layer of the skin provides enough nutrition for bacteria, allowing them to multiply and decompose keratin protein, mix with urea and lactic acid in sweat, and produce an unpleasant odor.

　　The cause of foot odor is formed by the combined effect of the following reasons:

　　1. A damp environment:The foot is a highly perspiring environment. The foot has more than 600 sweat glands per square centimeter, which is 2 to 4 times more than other parts of the body. There are approximately 250,000 sweat glands in total, which can secrete nearly 500 milliliters of sweat a day. In addition to water and salt, sweat contains lactic acid and urea. When the water content is high, it is very conducive to the large-scale proliferation of bacteria and mold.

　　2. A hot and closed space:When shoes are worn tightly and have poor ventilation, in addition to increasing moisture, the surface pH value of the skin will change from the original pH 4.4 to about pH 7, and carbon dioxide gas will be released. Such an environment is most suitable for the growth of certain bacteria on the soles of the feet.

　　3. Reproduction of bacteria:Due to the additive effect of the first and second factors, the growth of bacteria on the skin of the feet is caused, which can decompose the keratin protein of the skin and the urea and lactic acid components in the foot sweat, forming various metabolites with an odor, such as

　　(1) Brevi Bacterium can decompose the component Methionine in keratin protein, forming methyl mercaptan, which has a smell similar to that of cheese fermentation.

　　(2) The fatty components in sebum are decomposed by Staphylococcus aureus, forming short-chain fatty acids.

　　(3) Urea in sweat is decomposed by bacteria into ammonia.

　　When these smells are mixed together and tightly confined in non-breathable socks, they form an unpleasant foot odor.

　　4. Reproduction of mold:A hot and humid environment promotes the growth of mold, leading to foot odor, commonly known as Hong Kong foot. The symptoms of Hong Kong foot are very diverse, and not all cases have an odor. The most common type of Hong Kong foot that causes foot odor is when the skin between the toes becomes wet and rotten, resulting in the most severe foot odor.

　　5. Thick, old keratin:Thick, old keratin can become a source of nutrition for bacteria and molds when soaked in sweat, promoting the growth and reproduction of bacteria and molds, and exacerbating the formation of foot odor.

　　The root cause of foot odor is that the feet sweat more, have an odor, and over time, it can develop into severe athlete's foot. The bad smell can also affect people around you, and may cause the patient to have a certain sense of inferiority.

　　The feet have a strong odor compared to other parts of the body, and some people's feet may even emit a foul smell. It can even affect the patient's relationship with others around them, causing a serious impact on the patient's daily life, and should be taken seriously.

　　Preventive medicine

　　For those who sweat excessively, you can take a small amount of atropine or belladonna syrup. For those with excessive foot sweat, you can use a 20% aluminum chloride solution or a 20% methenamine solution to apply externally before going to bed each night, or you can also use a 5% formaldehyde solution to apply externally. Reducing foot sweat secretion and keeping the feet dry.

　　Foot hygiene

　　1. Maintaining good foot hygiene to reduce bacterial growth is a good start: soak and wash your feet with warm water and mild soap at least once a day. For example, a good practice is to wash your feet immediately after taking off your shoes and socks, and make sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes, to reduce sweat and excess moisture.

　　2. Sprinkling talcum powder on your feet can help keep your feet dry.

　　3. Apply antiperspirant to your feet to reduce sweating.

　　4. Try to take off your shoes and socks more often or wear sandals to let the skin on your feet breathe.

　　5. Make sure the shoes fit well and give your feet a rest, as excessive pressure on the feet can exacerbate sweating.

　　6. Keep your body cool, especially on hot days, because high body temperature can cause you to sweat more all over (including your feet).

　　Appropriate socks

　　1. Wear clean socks that are made of cotton, wool, or other moisture-absorbing materials, and thick, soft socks to help absorb sweat.

　　2. Avoid wearing socks made of nylon material.

　　3. Always wear socks when wearing sealed shoes.

　　4. Do not wear dirty socks again.

　　5. Change socks frequently as needed to keep your feet dry.

　　Appropriate footwear

　　1. Wear shoes made of genuine leather, canvas, or other breathable materials.

　　2. Wear breathable footwear (such as slippers) instead of tight footwear (such as boots) and avoid wearing plastic shoes.

　　3. Sprinkle talcum powder inside the shoes to help absorb excess moisture.

　　4. Frequently clean shoes that can be washed (such as canvas shoes) and dry them thoroughly.

　　5. It is best not to wear the same pair of shoes for consecutive days, as they need time to dry completely. Place the shoes in a well-ventilated area to let them dry completely, such as placing them outdoors and removing the insoles first, then drying them in the sun.

　　6. If the smell of the shoe cannot be removed even with deodorant products, throw the shoe away.

　　7. You can place a layer of breathable and deodorant insoles such as bamboo charcoal insoles inside the shoe to prevent the foot odor from remaining, and high-top leather boots are not suitable to wear.

　　Generally, diagnosis can be made based on the clinical manifestations of foot odor. If there are other pathological factors or discomfort symptoms, combined with pathogenic examination.

　　1. The feet have a strong smell compared to other parts of the body, and some people's feet even emit a foul smell.

　　2. If there is a fungal infection of the foot, scrape the scale of the skin lesion for direct fungal examination, and the presence of hyphae or arthrospores can be diagnosed.

　　3. Fungus culture can determine the pathogenic strain. The cause of foot odor is tinea, and if tinea is found in the fungus culture, it can be determined as typical foot odor.

　　Some people have a lot of foot sweat, even if they are very particular about hygiene and cleanliness, foot odor is still quite obvious, and special measures must be taken. Excessive sweating of the feet in young people may be related to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, and some drugs that regulate the function of the autonomic nervous system, such as oryzanol and vitamin B1, can be taken. Generally, with the increase of age, the phenomenon of excessive sweating of the feet can be gradually improved; if excessive sweating of the feet is related to emotional tension, some sedatives such as bromides can be used.

　　Use professional deodorant drugs and hygiene products, utilize antibacterial drugs (such as alcohol with a concentration of more than 70%), inhibit the reproduction of bacteria on the feet, and achieve the purpose of deodorization. People with foot odor can conveniently buy them and use them simply. It only needs to be applied to the sole or the root of the toes after washing and drying the feet, and the effect can last for 7-14 days, and the symptoms can be gradually alleviated.

　　Tetracycline to Eliminate Foot Odor:Many people are troubled by foot odor, and after multiple trials and verifications, it has been proven that: grind tetracycline into powder and apply it between the toes, use 1-2 tablets each time, and it can ensure that there is no odor for about half a month.

　　Formalin Foot Bath to Treat Foot Odor:Gently wipe the sole of the foot with a 10% formalin solution, be careful not to scratch the skin, use it for several days in a row, and it can treat foot odor.