The feet, like the palms of the feet, have numerous sweat glands. They also have a thick stratum corneum composed of sloughed dead cells. These dead cells, in a warm, moist environment, constitute an ideal breeding ground for the proliferation of bacteria and fungi. The unpleasant odor associated with sweaty feet is not caused by perspiration, which is odorless in itself, but by these bacteria and fungi. One consequence of sweaty feet can be damaged and irritated skin, usually between the toes. This is called palustrine eczema or foot fungus.
How to prevent and treat sweaty feet and foot fungus?
Strengthens the skin barrier : Many products (especially soaps) kill both the good and bad bacteria on your skin. As a result, the skin barrier is damaged, and bacteria and fungi can easily grow, causing foot fungus, among other things. That's why it's very important to restore this skin barrier and increase your skin's resilience. One way to do this is by washing your feet with Dead Sea salt , regularly taking a Dead Sea salt foot bath, and using a mud pack .
Foot Wash : Keep your feet clean. This seems obvious, but it's actually the basics. If necessary, wash your feet several times a day with one of our mild soaps . Dry them thoroughly after washing, including between your toes.
Foot bath : At the end of the day, soak your feet with Dead Sea salt (100 g, water up to the instep). This kills bacteria and strengthens the skin barrier. Let the salt dry on your skin for optimal effect. Several times a week, soak your feet with vinegar (125 ml in 1 liter of water), which also eliminates unwanted bacteria. Take alternating baths regularly (alternating hot and cold water). This will inhibit blood flow to your feet, reducing sweating.
Mud wrap : Apply a mud wrap to your feet once a week to strengthen the skin barrier, remove dirt and dead skin cells, and improve overall skin condition. You can see the best way to use it here.
Socks: Wear clean cotton or wool socks. Synthetic socks promote sweating. You can also layer two pairs of socks, one on top of the other; put on a cotton pair first, then a wool pair on top. It may sound strange, but your feet will sweat less as they cool down more due to the air insulation between the socks.
Footwear: Wear well-ventilated shoes made of natural materials (no rubber, nylon, etc.). Walk around the house barefoot or in open-toed shoes as much as possible. Let your shoes dry and change them regularly.
Callus Removal: Remove excess calluses to prevent the breeding ground for bacteria from becoming too thick. This can be done with a foot scrub and a lava rock .
Moisturize: Use a foot cream in the morning and at night to neutralize unpleasant odors and moisturize your feet.
GP: Do you suffer from foot fungus and can't get rid of it yourself? You can control it by using ketoconazole (cream) or MYK-1 (lotion). These are bactericidal drugs that eliminate foot fungus relatively quickly and effectively. Your GP can prescribe them.
