Feet smell because sweat trapped in shoes creates a warm, dark, and damp environment. Bacteria on your skin thrive in these conditions, feeding on your sweat and dead skin cells. As they break this mixture down, the bacteria release foul-smelling organic acids, causing the odour known as bromhidrosis.
Several factors can cause your feet to smell worse than usual:
- Excessive Sweating: Your feet house more sweat glands per square inch than any other part of the body. Hormonal changes (like during puberty or pregnancy), stress, and medical conditions like hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) drastically increase sweat production.
- Lack of Breathability: Shoes made of plastic or non-breathable materials trap moisture, giving sweat no way to evaporate.
- Fungal Infections: Fungi thriving in damp shoes cause athlete’s foot, which produces a distinct, often yeasty or cheesy smell alongside itching and burning.
- Bacterial Strains: Certain bacteria (like Kyetococcus sedentarius) can produce more than just organic acids—they release volatile sulphur compounds that smell like rotten eggs.
You can manage foot odour by washing daily with antibacterial soap, changing your socks frequently, and letting your shoes dry out completely between wears. If the smell is overwhelming, causes peeling skin, or doesn’t improve with basic hygiene, consulting a podiatrist is recommended.
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