Foot odor

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

Contents 1 Cause 2 Odor qualities 3 Prevention 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Cause

Foot odor is the result of wearing (the same) shoes and/or socks with inadequate air ventilation for many hours or even multiple times in a row. Since human feet are densely covered with sweat glands, perspiration of the feet can combine with surface bacteria to cause this unintentional odor. Hair on the feet, especially on the toes, may contribute to the odor's intensity by adding increased surface area in which the bacteria can thrive.

Since socks directly contact the feet, their composition can have an impact on foot odor. Polyester and nylon are common materials used to manufacture socks, but don't provide as much ventilation as cotton, another common sock material. Wearing polyester or nylon socks may increase perspiration and therefore may intensify foot odor.^[1] 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 also experience increased foot odor.

[edit] 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. 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.^[2]

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^[3], which is also present in several strong cheese types.

[edit] 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.^[4] Also special cedarsoles can be recommended because of their antibacterial characteristics. Hygiene is considered important in avoiding odor,^[5] as well as avoiding synthetic shoes/socks,^[5][6] rotating pairs of shoes ^[4][7] and soaking feet in a tub of iced tea.^[8][9]

[edit] See also

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

[edit] References