Untitled Document
 Ewww!
What's that smell? Sometimes when we take our shoes off, something
really stinks! Well, kids, you know
what that smell is, right? It's coming from you! But sometimes we
just don't want to admit it. Anyways, did you
ever wonder why in the world our feet can smell so bad? Let's just
say that the reason is because feet work
so hard through out the day. Think
about how important your feet are to
you. Without them, you couldn't stand up, walk around or play in the
park with friends. Hmmm. Still can't see where the smell comes from?
Read on!
The Smell Comes From Sweat!
Think of a hot summer day when you walked around all day. Boy oh boy,
your feet have been in those shoes for a long time! Just like other
parts of your body, feet sweat as well. Here's the problem.
Bacteria love living in dark,
damp places like the insides of your shoes. And
they just love it when the temperature gets hotter and
hotter. Believe it or not, they multiply as you sweat! These
bacteria love eating the dead skin cells and oils from
the feet. Bacteria colonies will grow and start getting rid of waste
in the form of organic acids. It's those
organic acids that create the bad smell.
Does Your Feet Smell Worse Than Your
Friends?
 We
all can have stinky feet. But some people
have really stinky feet that can make us want to puke. The reason is such
people have special bacteria called Microcococus living on their feet
and shoes. These bacteria are like the skunk of the bacteria world.
They produce organic acids like other bacteria, but they also produce
something called sulfur compounds. And these chemicals can create a powerful
and awful smell. If someone's
feet ever smelled like rotten eggs to you, now you
know why.
How to Stop the Smell
There's no way to stop the stink completely. But if you cut down on the sweat, you
can cut down on the smell, too.
 1. Wash
your feet every day. Dipping your feet into a
tub of water is better than
just letting the shower water splash on them. Make sure
to dry your feet when you're done.
2. Wear socks! Wearing the right socks can really help. People often
don't wear socks. And this makes a better environment for bacteria
to grow. Socks can absorb the sweat and let
your feet breathe.
3. Say no to tight shoes. If shoes are
too tight, your feet will sweat more than normal.
4. Switch shoes. Wearing the
same shoes every day can make them smellier. Let them dry out for
a couple of days before wearing them again.
5. Kill the bacteria. Ask your parents about using a disinfectant spray to kill
bacteria in your shoes. You should also wash your feet with antibacterial soap. Setting
shoes out in the sun also may help.
6. Shoes and insoles need a shower, too.
Most insoles and shoes, especially runners and sneakers are washable. This is a great
way to kill odors and get clean-smelling
shoes again. Be sure to dry them completely before wearing them again.
If nothing works and you still have problems with foot odor, ask your
parents to get some odor-fighting powder for
your feet. I guess the worst thing about having stinky feet is not
the smell but the fact that it's embarrassing. Well, the only
way to fix this is to always keep your feet and shoes clean. If you
do this, the bacteria will have to get their meals somewhere else! |
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