Remove Shoe Odor for Good

If you have excessive foot odor, it is important to see a doctor as it may indicate a serious issue like athlete’s foot, which is caused by a fungal infection, or hyperhidrosis, a disease that causes excessive sweating of the feet and hands.

Once these conditions have been ruled out or eliminated, you will want to clean your shoes to remove the odor. Don’t throw away those sweaty shoes. Give some home remedies a shot to wipe out any foul odors.

Keep Your Feet Clean

It may seem obvious, but an odor-free shoe starts with an odor-free foot. Feet generally start to smell after they have been perspiring. This sweat can combine with bacteria, and that’s what causes the odor.

Dry, clean feet won’t sweat as much and won’t build up as much bacteria. This will eliminate bad odors. Make sure you are washing your feet every day using soap and hot water. Also, make sure that you are thoroughly drying your feet when you are done. Pay special attention to the skin between the toes.

Give Your Feet a Soak

In addition to keeping your feet thoroughly clean, spoil them once a week with a foot soak. Not only will it ease your tired feet, it will also help to prevent foot odor. Mix warm water with 1 tablespoon of baking soda or 1/2 cup of vinegar. Then, fill your bathtub or basin with the mixture. Let your feet soak for about fifteen to twenty minutes. These soaks make the skin more acidic, which makes them an unpleasant environment for the fungi and bacteria that make feet stink.

Dry Your Shoes

Fungi and bacteria love moist, dark, and warm places, like the insides of your shoes. Thus, you want to clean as much bacteria and fungi as you can from your shoes. The best way to do this is to keep your footwear dry. Do not wear the same shoes for more than two days in a row, because your shoes will likely need a full day to completely dry. If the insoles come out, remove them when you’re drying the shoes. Finally, if your shoes get damp, air them out in the sun or put them in the dryer. Sprinkling talcum powder or cornstarch over your dried toes and feet can also absorb dampness. Before and after wearing your shoes, dust a little of the powder into them as well.

Change Your Socks

Another simple step is to put on new socks if they become damp. This may mean switching socks a couple of times each day. You’ll also want to make sure that you are buying socks made out of natural fabrics like hemp, wool, or cotton as these will encourage air circulation over the feet. These fabrics will also absorb moisture better than socks made out of synthetic fibers.

Disguise the Smell

When all else fails, deodorize your shoes to give them a more pleasant scent. Sprinkle plant leaves (dry or fresh) into shoes as they’re drying out. Herbs like rosemary, lavender, and sage all have strong scents that can hide unpleasant odors. Essential oils are also good for deodorizing your shoes and won’t irritate your skin, like synthetic sprays might. Patchouli or clove can be poured onto a cotton ball and placed onto waxed paper or plastic wrap to stop the oil from coloring your shoes. Keep the balls in your shoes until you wear them again.

7 Steps for Ridding Yourself of Dry Feet

Don’t be ashamed. Scaly, dry, cracked feet plague many. Our feet are one of the most abused parts of our body. First, they are out in the elements, including wet mud puddles and a dry, baking sun. They also hold up our body as we walk or run. They’re busy!

A way to thank your feet for doing so much for you means that not only is it important to keep your feet in good shape so you look good in those new shoes, it is important for preventing fungal infections, like athlete’s foot. If the skin on your feet is cracked, you are leaving openings for yeasts or fungi to enter your skin.

Before undertaking this regiment, though, it is very important to contact your doctor if you are diabetic. Due to poor circulation to the lower extremities, diabetics are more likely to contract dangerous forms of fungal infections. Thus, treating foot conditions and dry skin should be done under the care of your physician.

Now let’s discuss what you need to get rid of dry feet. You probably already have most of it at home.

Items needed:

• Wool or cotton socks
• Towel
• Pumice stone
• Foot lotion
• Something in which to soak your feet

Step 1: 

Before bed, put your feet in a tub of warm water and allow them to soak for 20 minutes. This will make the skin soft.

Step 2: 

A pumice stone is a piece of porous rock that can be found in most beauty supply or drugstores. Using a pumice stone, rub the dead skin off of your feet. Make sure you are being gentle. You only want to get rid of the dead skin. Rubbing the stone back-and-forth is best.

You may need to repeat this process a few times if your feet are in really rough shape. Every day, rub your feet as much as possible before it starts to feel uncomfortable, and then start the process over again the following day.

Step 3:

Use cool water to rinse your feet.

Step 4:

This next step is very important for preventing infections. You need to make sure that you are cleaning your pumice stone after every use. Make sure you rinse the skin off using cool water. Keep your stone in a cool, open area so that it can dry. Consider buying a stone that already has a string on it. That way, it can hang somewhere where it is sure to dry faster.

Step 5: 

Thoroughly dry your feet. Fungi love damp feet, so you want to make sure you are always keeping yours water-free.

Step 6:

Use a circular motion to massage the lotion onto your feet. Massaging your feet as you moisturize them can actually improve circulation of the blood. When buying your lotion, look for creams that are designed specifically for feet. These will be heavier creams that contain ingredients to help get rid of dry skin.

Step 7:

After your regiment, wear wool or cotton socks. These will hold the lotion to your skin to keep them moisturizing overnight. When you wake up, your feet should feel moisturized and smoother.

Kill Fungus Naturally with Herbs

There are many reasons a person may contract an infection caused by fungi. These include poor personal hygiene, overusing antibiotics, or an immune deficiency. The most common infections are caused by fungi in the candida family. Candida albicans, for example, is the culprit behind yeast infections. Fungi thrive in moist, warm areas. For example, they are often found on the feet, especially on the skin between toes, under the arms, or in the genital area. If a fungal infection spreads, it can become fatal. Prescription medication usually cures the infection, but they can lead to irritation of the gastrointestinal system or the liver.

Luckily, many herbs can prevent fungal infections without side effects. However, it is important to talk to your physician before beginning an herbal regiment.

The 3 Main Causes of Toenail Fungal Infections

A fungal toenail infection can strike anyone, though it usually occurs in adults. Usually, a toenail infection will only occur after it has already struck a person’s feet. Once the infection reaches the nails, it can become hard to cure. Even after the fungus is eradicated, there is always the chance that it will come back. Toenail fungal infections usually come from three different sources.

Everyday Shoes

The sort of normal shoes that people wear every day can be the culprit behind the growth of fungal infections. When people wear boots or shoes that crowd the toes and constrict the feet, they are more likely to sweat. Athletes are especially at risk for these infections because their feet sweat more often and the dampness will likely be absorbed into the shoes. Fungi love dark, warm, and wet environments. A way to prevent infections from growing in shoes, is to wear sandals or open-toed shoes. Another good idea is to keep dry socks handy so you can easily change them if your socks get wet. Many new socks are made from dry-wick materials that will keep the moisture off of your feet, which will prevent fungal infections from growing and spreading. Finally, fungi hate the sun and UV rays will kill them. So, as often as possible, try to expose your feet to some sunshine.

3 Ways to Identify Fungal Infections

A fungal infection can show up on any part of your body, including your skin, nails, and hair. To start diagnosing the type of fungus that plagues you, you have to figure out what is causing the problem. When you know what the different types of fungus look like, you can stop infections from happening again, and you can prevent more serious, internal infections.

Athlete’s foot strikes people most often. You will usually see this on the skin of your feet. One of the telltale indications that you have athlete’s foot is wetness on the soles of your feet or the skin between your toes. The skin will look puffy and swollen and will also be red. Along with the redness, there may often be an itching or burning sensation.

Usually, you can treat athlete’s foot with over-the-counter medicines. If the infection does not go away after about seven days, you need to call your doctor.

Another common infection is jock itch. This generally arises in the armpits or the groin. It can also strike the skin under the breasts. Usually, this fungal infection is caused due to sweating on hot, humid days or during strenuous exercise. Cornstarch powder can be dusted in the creases or folds of your skin to keep you dry and prevent infection.

Ringworm is most commonly found on children. Kids usually catch it from an animal or coming into contact with someone who is infected. Ringworm usually looks like a circle on the skin. It will usually start as a red bump but then it will grow into the more recognizable circle. Left untreated, it will keep getting bigger. Usually, you can treat ringworm with over-the-counter anti-fungal creams that can be rubbed onto the skin. You will want to continue using the cream for an additional fourteen days after the rash has disappeared. If the ringworm is on the scalp or is all over the body, you may need to see your doctor for oral medication.

Keep an eye on your nails

Infections on your nails are more commonly seen in adults than children. Keep an eye out for the nail thickening. The nail will start to turn a creamy, yellow, or opaque color. If the infection is left untreated for long enough, patches and small streaks may appear, and the color of the nail will get even darker.

People with diabetes or vascular diseases will be more likely to develop a secondary bacterial infection, especially if they often get fungal infections on their skin or in their nails.

Doctors may prescribe 3 months’ worth of oral medication for toenail infections. Medicine need only be taken for 6 weeks to treat fingernail infections.

Consulting your doctor

When in doubt, call your physician. A lot of skin problems may take on the appearance of a fungus, and only your doctor will know the difference and be able to treat your issue accordingly. To diagnose your skin condition, the doctor may use a slide to scrape off some of the infected skin so it can be examined with a microscope. At that point, she can figure out if a fungus is causing your skin issues.