14 DAY TRIAL // A very interesting piece of information to begin with is the fact that, unbeknown to most of us, feet actually have over 250,000 or more sweat glands - which means that when the weather gets hot (like it's happening right now), feet are one of the main doorways used by our body to try and cool itself off. Nothing suspicious so far. However, one thing that's not quite easy to forget is the fact that most modern, civilized people wear shoes most of the day, which means that the moisture exuded by the sweat glands in our feet can't evaporate, it builds up and, with a helping hand from the ever-present bacteria (which by the way, love dark moist places), the terrible odor that we so terribly hate is born. Here are a few easy and useful tips for an odor-free, sweet smelling summer.
First of all, you probably noticed by now that the hated odor tends to "travel" between various pairs of shoes and once a pair is "infected" there's not much you can do except stop wearing it. If you're considering getting several fresh pairs of shoes, try not to go for synthetic fabrics, as they will "cramp" your feet even worse. While you're shopping, also get yourself a nice supply of cotton socks, as they will turn out to be your best friends, absorbing moisture and helping to keep your feet sweat-free. Another good idea would be to buy an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream in case there's more than just bacteria causing the bad odor, as well as several pairs of heavy duty, odor absorber innersoles, one for each new pair of shoes you get. This will help absorb moisture even more effectively and keep your feet dry for longer.
Another solution is to sprinkle any over-the-counter drying powder (Zeasorb is a good idea) into your shoes every morning before you leave for work. At the end of the day, treat yourself with a nice foot bath. First make a nice pot of tea using regular tea bags, pour it into a basin and soak your feet in the infusion for up to ten minutes. The tannic acid is a temporary sweat inhibitor. Then use a foot pumice stone to scrub your feet and eliminate any dead cells from your skin. Use a light, non-scented moisturizer and don't wear any socks over the night. You're bound to feel the effects of all these changes quite soon, provided you do them all at once. If however you continue wearing even one pair of shoes that still retains some of the old smell, the entire regime will be useless.