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Academy Foot and Ankle
1940 East State Hwy 114 Suite 150Southlake, TX 76092817-424-3668
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  • Home
  • Our Doctors
    • Paul T. Marciano, D.P.M.
    • Gregory J. Amelung, D.P.M.
    • Joel Dacus, D.P.M.
    • Philip Parr, DPM, MS
    • Larissa P. Rolim D.P.M., M.S.
    • Masoud Moradi, DPM, FAAPSM
  • Our Offices
    • Southlake
    • Keller (Fort Worth)
    • Hurst
    • Flower Mound
  • Conditions We Treat
    • Ankle Surgery
      • Ankle Arthroscopy
      • Total Ankle Replacement
      • Chronic Ankle Instability
      • Achilles Tendon Repair
    • Arthritis
      • Arthritis
      • Arthritis Surgery
      • Hallux Limitus/Hallux Rigidus
      • Spurs
      • Freiberg's Disease
      • Gout
      • Charcot Foot
    • Ball of Foot Pain
      • Capsulitis
      • Metatarsalgia
      • Metatarsal Surgery
      • Neuroma
      • Sesamoiditis
    • Bunions/Bunionettes
      • Bunions
      • Hallux Limitus/Hallux Rigidus
      • Tailor's Bunion (Bunionette)
      • Hallux Varus
      • Bunion Surgery
    • Congenital Deformities
      • Clubfoot
      • Dysplasia
      • Enchondroma
      • Gordon Syndrome
      • In-toeing
      • Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
      • Overlapping or Underlapping Toes
      • Pediatric Flatfoot
    • Corns/Calluses
      • Corns
      • Calluses
      • Heel Callus
    • Crossover Toe
    • Diabetic Foot
      • What Is Diabetes?
      • Diabetic Foot Care
      • Peripheral Arterial Disease
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infection)
      • Charcot Foot
      • Neuropathy
      • Gangrene
      • Ulcers
      • Diabetic Complications: Amputation Prevention
      • Diabetic Shoes
    • Equinus
    • Flatfeet
      • Flatfeet
      • Pediatric Flatfoot
      • Adult Flatfoot
      • Flatfoot Correction
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
      • Tarsal Coalition
    • Fractures/Trauma
      • What Is A Fracture?
      • Toe Fractures
      • Foot Fractures
      • Ankle Fractures
      • Pediatric Fractures
      • Stress Fractures
    • Hammertoes
      • Hammertoes
      • Mallet Toes
      • Claw Toes
      • Hammertoe Surgery
      • Crossover Toe
    • Heel Pain
      • Plantar Fasciitis or Heel Pain
      • Spurs
      • Plantar Fibromas
      • Haglunds Deformity
      • Pediatric Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)
    • Ingrown Toenails
    • Nail Fungus
      • Black Toenails
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Nail Fungus
    • Nerve Conditions
      • Neuropathy
      • Alcoholic Neuropathy
      • Neuroma
      • Spasms
      • Ulcers/Wounds
      • Neurolysis
      • Charcot Foot
    • Pediatric Conditions
      • Children's Feet
      • Pediatric Flatfoot
      • Pediatric Heel Pain (Sever's Disease)
      • Tarsal Coalition
      • Pediatric Fractures
      • Kohler's Disease
      • Intoeing
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Smelly Feet and Foot Odor
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Warts
    • Skin Conditions
      • Allergies
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Blisters
      • Neuropathy
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Calluses
      • Chilblains
      • Corns
      • Cysts-Ganglions
      • Frostbite
      • Nail Fungus
      • Gangrene
      • Heel Fissures
      • Kaposi's Sarcoma
      • Lesions
      • Psoriasis
      • Smelly Feet/Foot Odor
      • Swelling
      • Ulcers/Wounds
      • Warts
    • Strains/Sprains/Sports Medicine
      • Achilles Tendon Repair
      • Ankle Sprain Injuries
      • Athletic Foot Care
      • Chronic Ankle Instability
      • Osteochondritis of the Ankle
      • Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
      • R.I.C.E. Protocol
      • Shin Splints
      • Spasms
      • Sports Injuries
        • Baseball Injuries
        • Basketball Injuries
        • Cheer and Dance Injuries
        • Field Hockey Injuries
        • Football Injuries
        • Golf Injuries
        • Lacrosse Injuries
        • Rugby Injuries
        • Running and Track Injuries
        • Soccer Injuries
        • Softball Injuries
        • Tennis Injuries
        • Volleyball Injuries
      • Turf Toe
    • Tendonitis
      • Achilles Tendonitis
        • Xanthomas of the Achilles Tendon
      • Extensor Tendonitis
      • Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
    • Toenail Conditions
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Nail Fungus
      • Subungal Exotosis
    • Vascular Conditions
      • Peripheral Arterial Disease
      • Acrocyanosis
      • Chilblains
      • Erythromelalgia
      • Ischemia
      • Raynaud's Phenomenon
      • Ulcers/Wounds
      • Venous Stasis and Vericose Veins
    • Warts/Soft Tissue Masses
      • Cysts-Ganglions
      • Warts
  • Patient Education
    • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Bunion Prevention
    • Foot Care For Seniors
    • Foot Fitness
      • Foot Self-Exam
      • Self-Assessment Quiz
    • Nutrition For Your Feet
    • Top Foot Problems
    • Pedicures
    • Shoes
      • Anatomy of a Shoe
      • Athletic Shoe Guidelines
      • Childrens Shoes
      • Corrective and Prescription Shoes
      • Shoes: What To Look For
      • Getting a Proper Fit
      • Diabetic Shoes
      • Men's Shoes
      • Women's Shoes
      • Your Footprint
      • Wear Patterns
    • Women's Feet
      • High Heels
      • Stockings
      • Pregnancy
      • Women Over 65
    • Your Feet @ Work
    • Links
  • Patient Portal
  • New Patient Information
  • Our Services
    • Alcohol Injections
    • BOTOX Injections
    • Digital X-Ray
    • Extracorporeal Shock Wave
    • Lasers
    • Physical Therapy
    • PRP Injections
    • Custom Orthotics
    • Stem Cell Therapy
    • Sports Related Injuries
  • Contact Us
  • Patient Survey
  • Procedure Videos
  • Blog

Smelly Feet and Foot Odor

The feet and hands contain more sweat glands than any other part of the body, with roughly 3,000 glands per square inch. Smelly feet are not only embarrassing, but can be physically uncomfortable as well.

Feet smell for two reasons: 1) shoe wear, and 2) sweating of the feet. The interaction between the perspiration and the bacteria that thrive in shoes and socks generates the odor. Therefore, any attempt to reduce foot odor has to address both sweating and footwear.

Smelly feet or excessive sweating can also be caused by an inherited condition, called hyperhidrosis, which primarily affects men. Stress, some medications, fluid intake, and hormonal changes also can increase the amount of perspiration our bodies produce.

In general, smelly feet can be controlled with a few preventive measures:

  • Always wear socks with closed shoes.
  • Avoid wearing nylon socks or plastic shoes. Instead, wear shoes made of leather, canvas, mesh, or other materials that let your feet breathe.
  • Bathe feet daily in lukewarm water, using a mild soap. Dry thoroughly.
  • Change socks and shoes at least once a day.
  • Check for fungal infections between toes and on the bottoms of your feet. If any redness or dry, patchy skin is observed, get treatment right away.
  • Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. If you frequently wear athletic shoes, alternate pairs so that the shoes can dry out. Give your shoes at least 24 hours to air out between wearings; if the odor doesn't go away, discard the shoes.
  • Dust your feet frequently with a nonmedicated baby powder or foot powder. Applying antibacterial ointment also may help.
  • Practice good foot hygiene to keep bacteria levels at a minimum.
  • Wear thick, soft socks to help draw moisture away from the feet. Cotton and other absorbent materials are best.

Treating Foot Odor
The best home remedy for foot odor is to soak feet in strong black tea for 30 minutes a day for a week. The acid in the tea kills the bacteria and closes the pores, keeping your feet dry longer. Use two tea bags per pint of water. Boil for 15 minutes, then add two quarts of cool water. Soak your feet in the cool solution. Alternately, you can soak your feet in a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water.

Soaking in warm water and Epsom salt also has a drying effect and can help minimize sweating and odor as well.

Persistent foot odor can indicate a low-grade infection or a severe case of hereditary sweating. In these cases, a prescription ointment may be required to treat the problem.

Treating Excessive Sweating
A form of electrolysis, called iontophoresis, has been shown to reduce excessive sweating of the feet. However, it is more difficult to administer. BOTOX can also be used as a treatment for hyperhidrosis.  BOTOX treatments my relieve symptoms for up to nine months.

If you have a problem with sweaty feet or foot odor, contact a Foot and Ankle Specialist at Academy Foot and Ankle Specialists to see what treatment might be right for you.

Patient Education

Patient Education Menu
  • What is a Podiatrist?
  • When To Call a Doctor
  • Foot Anatomy
  • Overview of Foot and Ankle Problems
  • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
  • Foot Problems
    • General Statistics
    • Achilles Problems
      • Achilles Tendonitis
      • Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
      • Xanthomas of the Achilles Tendon
    • Ankle Problems
      • Ankle Sprain
      • Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
      • Osteochondritis
    • Arch and Ball Problems
      • Capsulitis
      • Flat Feet (over pronation)
      • Metatarsalgia (foot pain in ball)
      • Plantar Fibromas (lumps in the arch of the foot)
      • Sesamoiditis
    • Common Foot Injuries
      • Ankle Sprain Injuries
      • Broken Ankle
      • Fractures
      • Osteochondritis (stiff ankle)
      • Osteochondromas
      • Shin Splints
      • Sports Injuries
    • Deformities
      • Amniotic Band Syndrome
      • Bunions
      • Claw Toe
      • Clubfoot
      • Dysplasia (Epiphysealis Hemimelica)
      • Enchondroma
      • Flat Feet
      • Gordon Syndrome
      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Hallux Limitus (Stiff Big Toe Joint)
      • Hallux Rigidus (Stiff Big Toe)
      • Hallux Varus
      • Hammertoes
      • Jackson-Weiss Syndrome
      • Mallet Toes
      • Metatarsalgia
      • Osteomyelitis (Bone Infections)
      • Overlapping or Underlapping Toes
      • Peroneal Tendon Dislocation/Dysfunction
      • Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
      • Sesamoiditis
      • Spurs
      • Tarsal Coalition
    • Diabetes and Your Feet
    • Diseases of the Foot
      • Arthritis
      • Cancer
      • Charcot Foot
      • Freiberg's Disease
      • Gout
      • Kaposi's Sarcoma (AIDS related)
      • Kohler's Disease
      • Maffucci's Syndrome
      • Ollier's Disease
      • Raynaud's Disease
      • Sever's Disease
      • Sever's Disease
    • Fungus Problems
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)
      • Fungal Nails
    • Heel Problems
      • Haglund's Deformity
      • Heel Callus
      • Heel Fissures
      • Plantar Fasciitis (heel spur)
    • Nail Problems
      • Black Toenails
      • Ingrown Toenails
      • Nail Fungus
    • Skin Problems
      • Allergies
      • Athlete's Foot (tinea pedis)
      • Blisters
      • Burning Feet
      • Calluses
      • Corns
      • Cysts
      • Frostbite
      • Fungus
      • Gangrene
      • Lesions
      • Psoriasis
      • Smelly Feet and Foot Odor
      • Swelling
      • Ulcers
      • Warts
    • Toe Problems
      • Bunions
      • Claw Toe
      • Digital Deformity
      • Hallux Limitus (stiff big toe joint)
      • Hallux Rigidis (rigid big toe)
      • Hallux Varus
      • Hammertoes
      • Intoeing
      • Overlapping, Underlapping Toes
      • Subungal Exotosis (bone spur under toenail)
      • Turf Toe
    • Vascular/Nerve Problems
      • Acrocyanosis
      • Alcoholic Neuropathy
      • Chilblains (cold feet)
      • Erythromelalgia
      • Ischemic Foot
      • Neuroma
      • Spasms
      • Venous Stasis
  • Medical Care
    • Diagnostic Procedures
      • Computed Tomography
      • MRI
      • Ultrasound
      • X-Rays
    • Orthotics
    • Pain Management
      • General Information and Tips
      • Pain Management for Specific Conditions
    • Surgical Procedures
      • General Information
      • Achilles Surgery
      • Ankle Surgery
      • Arthritis Surgery
      • Arthroscopy
      • Bunion Surgery
      • Cyst Removal
      • Flatfoot Correction
      • Hammertoe Surgery
      • Heel Surgery
      • Metatarsal Surgery
      • Nerve Surgery (Neuroma)
      • Toe Surgery
    • Therapies
      • Athlete's Foot Treatment
      • Cryotherapy
      • Extracorporeal Shock Wave
      • Iontophoresis
      • Physical Therapy
      • Neurolysis
  • Fitness and Your Feet
    • General Information About Fitness and Your Feet
    • Aerobics
    • Fitness And Your Feet
    • Sports and Your Feet
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Jogging and Running
      • Tennis
    • Stretching
    • Walking and Your Feet
    • Work Footwear
  • Foot Care
    • Basic Foot Care Guidelines
    • Athletic Foot Care
    • Blisters
    • Children's Feet
    • Corns and Calluses
    • Diabetic Foot Care
    • Foot Care For Seniors
    • Foot Self-Exam
    • Pedicures
    • Self-Assessment Quiz
    • Women's Feet
      • High Heels
      • Stockings?
      • Pregnancy
      • Women Over 65
    • Your Feet at Work
    • Bunion Prevention
    • Burning Feet
    • Fungus Problems
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Common Fungal Problems
      • Fungal Nails
      • Other Tips
      • Prevention
    • Ingrown Nails
    • Osteoporosis
    • Foot Odor and Smelly Feet
      • Prevention
      • Treating Foot Odor
  • Shoes
    • Anatomy of a Shoe
    • Athletic Shoe Guidelines
    • Children's Shoes
    • Corrective and Prescription Shoes
    • What To Look For
    • Getting a Proper Fit
    • Men's Shoes
    • Women's Shoes
    • Your Footprint
    • Wear Patterns
  • Links
    • Government
    • Associations/Groups
    • Online Resources


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Our Locations

817-424-3668 (FOOT)

1940 East State Hwy 114,
Suite 150
Southlake, TX 76092
 New loaction
 6501 Precinct Line Road
 Suite 100,
 North Richland Hills, TX 76182
 
4444 Heritage Trace Pkwy.,
Suite 400
Keller, TX 76244
5810 Long Prairie Rd.,
Suite 400
Flower Mound, TX 75028
 
Office Hours
Monday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
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