7 tips against foot sweat! Cause & treatment

Do you suffer from foot perspiration and stinky feet? Then you've come to the right place, we'll help you with a new blog article and lots of cinnamon!

We're all familiar with foot sweat - during sporting activities, hiking, skiing or in high temperatures, the body sweats more and our feet also produce more sweat, which is actually a good thing.

What is sweat?

Sweating is not a bad thing, we all sweat. This happens because of our millions of sweat glands on our forehead, palms and soles. When the body heats up, e.g. the temperature rises or we exercise, these glands start to work to cool the body, which is very important for us.

Unfortunately, however, the sweat then usually starts to smell unpleasant very quickly. Closed shoes, the wrong socks and a lack of foot care are usually responsible for how foot sweat turns into a nasty, annoying and penetrating foot odour.

Lots of foot perspiration and smelly shoes?

How do stinky feet develop?

Sweat contains water with some salt, urea, lactic acid, amino acids and the body's own fat. However, sweat also contains bacteria that feed on it and then turn the sweat into butyric acid. If this butyric acid has no way out, especially in airtight shoes and/or socks made of synthetic fibres, it starts to smell very unpleasant. This is how the commonly used terms cheese feet, stinky feet or sweat propellers are created. 

How can you prevent foot perspiration and odour?

Sweat should not be prevented, as described above, this is a natural reaction of the body. We have to sweat to cool the body. But the unpleasant odour can be reduced or prevented altogether. 

Here is some advice on how to prevent foot odour:

1. cinnamon soles

Without wishing to self-promote here, cinnamon soles are the most effective remedy for foot perspiration and foul-smelling feet to date!

Cinnamon insoles against foot perspiration all year round

Cinnamon not only smells good, it also promotes well-being. Cinnamon has also been used as a remedy for a very long time. To be precise, for more than 2000 years! Cinnamon has an antibacterial and antifungal effect. Cinnamon also has a relaxing effect, promotes blood circulation and is calming. With our cinnamon soles you not only help your feet but your whole body. Here are the positive properties of our cinnamon soles:

• Our cinnamon insoles absorb foot perspiration

• The pleasant fragrance makes your feet smell good and masks the disgusting foot odour. 

• Our cinnamon insoles have a temperature equalising effect. Your feet are warmed in winter and cooled in summer. As a result, they also sweat a little less

• Thanks to the antibacterial and antifungal properties, foot problems such as nail fungus, nail bed inflammation and athlete's foot are prevented.

• Thanks to the essential oils in cinnamon, the feet are relaxed and decongested.

2. foot care

Thoroughly cleaning your feet is more than just a quick shower. Place your feet in a mixture of Epsom salts and water and leave them to soak. Dissolve half a cup of Epsom salts in a basin or large bowl of warm water and soak for about 10 to 20 minutes. Epsom salt draws moisture from your skin, which in turn makes it less likely for bacteria to survive. If you prefer the shower, it is important to wash your feet thoroughly with a flannel and scrub between your toes.

3. keep your feet dry:

Whichever method (foot bath or shower) you choose, dry your feet well after bathing/showering. Unpleasant odours come from moisture, so it is important to keep your feet, shoes and socks as dry as possible. If your feet get sweaty during the day, pack an extra pair of socks in your bag and change your socks at lunchtime or after training. You can also keep your feet dry by choosing socks made from bamboo or cotton and shoes made from natural materials such as cork, cotton or leather. These natural materials allow the moisture on your feet to evaporate. Artificial materials such as nylon or plastic trap moisture. Also wear open shoes, flip flops, slippers or sandals as often as possible.

4. disinfect your shoes:

Are your shoes surrounded by a green cloud of odour, even if you're not wearing them at all? You don't have to throw them away. Using an all-purpose disinfectant spray, like the one you use in your kitchen, can eliminate the foul odour emanating from your shoes. Look for a kitchen spray that contains ethanol and other disinfectants that will kill the bacteria. Remove the insole from the shoe, spray it lightly and leave it to dry for 24 hours. When you then put the insole back into the shoe, you have treated the shoe.

A very good alternative is to change the insole. Since last year, there has been a further development of our classic cinnamon insoles, the ‘Cinnamon Insoles Sport’. Unlike the classic cinnamon insoles, which are placed on the insole, the insole is replaced completely. 

5. use powder:

If you notice that your feet are sweating, you can try an over-the-counter foot antiperspirant. Or try a home remedy and sprinkle a little cornflour in your shoe to keep your feet dry. If you still can't solve the odour problem, ask your doctor for a prescription medication to treat foot odour.

6. the right socks

Foot perspiration is normal and cannot and should not be prevented. Nor should you do so under any circumstances. What you can and should do, however, is to avoid blocking the outflow of sweat. Your feet should also be able to breathe. This is where socks come into play. If you wear synthetic socks, your feet cannot breathe and therefore sweat more, and they also block the outflow of sweat. As a result, the sweat stays on your feet and starts to stink very quickly and intensely. Wear socks made from natural materials such as bamboo or cotton and let the sweat escape. 

Bamboo socks help very well against foot perspiration and odours

7. breathable shoes

An often underestimated problem is choosing the right shoes. Shoes made of synthetic materials are not ideal and are often one or even the cause of increased sweating. Choose breathable shoes made from natural materials such as leather, cotton or cork. But be careful with the insole. The insole should also be made of breathable material. 

Conclusion on the subject of sweaty feet

As mentioned above, there are a number of things you can do to prevent excessive foot perspiration. You should wear socks and shoes made of breathable materials to prevent unpleasant foot perspiration from forming in the first place.

Bamboo is a good choice for socks as it is very breathable. Cotton and cork are a very good choice for shoes. Open shoes are even better, as often as possible. However, if this is not possible and you cannot do without closed shoes, then you should definitely put cinnamon insoles in your shoes. Cinnamon insoles help to absorb perspiration and combat bad foot odour.