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Stomping out smelly feet
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Do your feet smell?
There could be a simple solution for that.
Dr. Richard Silverstein, clinical instructor of orthopedics at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, said the key to solving foot odor is locating its source.
“It could be from sweating a lot, or it could be from bacteria, but the odor comes from sweat glands in the foot,” Silverstein said.
Foot odor is more common among people who have jobs requiring them to stand for long periods of time, like construction workers, he said.
“If you’re working on your feet all day and wearing a closed-type boot, what you should do is untie the laces at night, pull the tongue out and allow them to dry out completely,” Silverstein said.
He also suggested workers buy two pairs of boots and switch pairs every day so they have adequate time to dry out before they’re worn again.
Powders and frequent sock changing can also help stop odors.
If these at-home remedies don’t banish the odor, Silverstein said sufferers should contact a doctor.
“If it’s just an odor problem, it’s probably not that serious, but if there’s itching and cracking as well, it could be more serious,” he said.
arobinson@baltimoreexaminer.com
