bepbo
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by bepbo on Jan 30, 2016 8:18:43 GMT
Hey everyone, I'm new to this board and after reading many success stories I finally have regained my lost hopes of becoming odor free. The first time I realized I had foot odor was 10 years ago when I was in middle school and a girl sitting behind me commented that someones shoes smelled. From then I have always been nervous as I kept hearing more and more people saying stuff about a sweaty socks or shoe smell. I even wear sandals most of the time so that the sweat from my feet can evaporate but it doesn't seem to help that much because I have been told that there is a sandal smell. The most frustrating part of this is that neither myself or my family can smell my feet so its very hard to know if any of my attempts to cure the odor actually work. I do get sweaty feet when I wear shoes even with socks on, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that I suffer from hyperhidrosis because my feet only sweat when I am wearing shoes or sandals. They don't sweat so much that I am slipping out of my sandals. I believe I am a very clean person and I take good care of my feet. I wash them thoroughly everyday with antibacterial and antifungal soap and use foot spray and foot deodorant cream wit manuka oil before I put my bamboo socks and shoes on. I don't think its the shoes either because the sweaty socks smell would occur even when I am wearing a brand new pair of shoes. I also tried soaking my feet in tea for about a week and although it does help a little bit with the sweat I am not convinced it has done much for the smell. People have described the smell as sweaty socks smell or sandals smell so I think my feet makes whatever material I have on amplified with a hint of feet. I have begun to suspect that the problem could be internal after reading many posts on this site. If anyone has experienced anything similar or can help me figure out the cause of my problem I would greatly appreciate it.
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Post by livininhope on Feb 2, 2016 21:34:37 GMT
Hi Like you I have a problem of foot odour, you can smell my feet through my shoes, people used to sniff and stare at my feet. I had a sever case of IBS then I developed hyperhidrosis and smelly feet. Later I developed fecal body odour, so believe everything is linked. If you check the internet you will find info on how your gut bacteria talks to bacteria on other parts of your body such as your skin, so if you have a dysbiosis it can affect you in in different ways.
Recently I have had improvements with my foot and body odour, and go into the supermarket and do not get stared at or sniffed at. I believe this is down to changes with my diet and a protocol with my feet. I have been on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for almost two years.
I check my feet regularly and thoroughly for any cuts, even tiny cuts, as these cuts can cause an odour. If I find any I immediately use a cream and powder for athlete's foot and ensure the cuts are totally healed. Also according to the internet some people develop pitted kerotosis and are not aware of it (miniscule pits/holes in the skin which hold breed bad bacteria and cause a smell).
Some doctors found that patients with chronic foot odour got positive results by using Vicks vapor-rub on their feet. Apparently the menthol kills bacteria and fungus and clears the pitted kerotosis. It can apparently also prevent athlete's foot. Be aware that it can take the Vicks 2 or 3 weeks to really make a difference.
I started to use the Vicks vapor-rub nightly, then after my shower in the morning I get a bucket and wash my feet with Hibi-Scrub which I leave on for about 10 minutes then rinse off. You can buy this in boots the chemist for about £5 and it's what hospital staff use to sterilise their hands before an operation.
I believe that between the changes to my diet and using vicks and hibi-scrub there has been a substantial improvement in my odour issues, I will not say I am cured but the improvement has really boosted my confidence.
Just for information, you can also buy a product called Eradicil which you use to wash your socks, towels and bed-linen, It kills all bacteria and fungus. You can also get a product called 'on your toes', its a powder you put in your shoes and it dries them out and freshens them. I think it contains zinc powder so you could use this instead or maybe even bicarbonate of soda, but you should not wear the same shoes two days running as they need to dry out.
For info, As part of the change to my diet I started to eat porridge, although not supposed to on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet it has helped with constipation. I believe that constipation can cause food to ferment or rot in the gut and breed bad bacteria. I take porridge daily and use creamed coconut which I melt with warm water and pour over porridge instead of milk, I cut up fresh dates or prunes and add these as well. I also take a glass of prune juice in the morning and one in the evening. If you have constipation it can cause straining which in turn can cause anal fissures which can cause odour. Although this info might not be of use to you, it might help someone else.
Good luck, and if you try the vicks and/or hibi-scrub please let us know how you get on.
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Post by livininhope on Feb 2, 2016 22:10:57 GMT
Hi Re my earlier post, I forgot to ask about what your diet is like. For info, I have copied over some advice from the internet which might be of help regarding diet:
Dr. Robert A. Kornfeld, the founder of the Institute for Integrative Podiatric Medicine mentions:
“Diets high in refined carbohydrates will often serve as food for bacteria and fungus in the body. The body intends to rid itself of bacteria through dead skin cells. However, when they collect in the skin of the foot through perspiration and are enclosed in a shoe, the odor can become extreme.”
FOODS TO AVOID
Foods high in sulphur A number of compounds found in foods, such as sulfites, can produce an unpleasant smell when they are broken down in the body and released through sweat. Foods that are considered healthy may need to be avoided. Some vegetables when digested are broken down into sulfur-like compounds, which can create unpleasant smells.
Some people have a food sensitivity to sulfites causing a prominent odor sometimes described as an onion smell. Vegetables like broccoli, fish like salmon and tuna, and red meats can also cause unwanted odors. Onion, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beer, tea, and coffee are examples of sulfur rich foods. Eliminating such foods can help clear up foul foot odor.
Don’t overdo it though with the cutting back because sulfur-containing vegetables are very healthy. They contain unique potent anti-carcinogenic compounds.
Sweat inducing foods Foods that make you overproduce sweat. Both spicy and foods that are temperature wise hot, such as hot soup can make you perspire. Consuming less of these can assist you in your attempt to eliminate foot odor.
A good place to start is by limiting foods that are spicy such as peppers, greasy such as fast food, chocolate, and white bread, high in fat such as high fat milk, high in sodium (salt) and contain elements such as caffeine. These foods increase sweat production so unfortunately you may have to curb the coffee and fried chicken cravings. Refined carbs
Refined carbs Another major culprit are foods that are considered refined carbs. These include white bread, white pasta, white rice and pastries. Many pastries contain flour and refined carbs that contribute to body odor.
Strive for a balance of complex carbs, healthy fats and protein to reduce stinky feet.
Yeast and sugar An overabundance of yeast and sugar may contribute to bacterial growth which is a the indirect cause of smelly feet. Reduce your intake of yeast and sugar containing foods.
Hope this helps.
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Post by reah on Apr 11, 2017 2:25:19 GMT
Hello,
I'm happy to have found this post because I too have a rare odor from foot for years now. I think it is candida or anything that relates to bacteria/fungi in the gut. I have cleared it at some time but it came back but now I think it has almost cleared 98% I would say. It's just a few weeks ago when I started salad and fruits diet for 3 weeks then does not eat as much. I sleep before 12 midnight. I noticed the odor gone. I choose shoes that are just the right fit because if shoes have just tiny space from my feet, I somehow have some just a small smell in which I think my sweat reacts to the leather inside the shoes. But with just-enough-tightness shoes worn, no smell goes out. I actually do not have smelly feet when my shoes are off. Neither did my shoes smell ever even before at the peak of my odor issues. It's just the reaction of my sweat when wearing shoes.
But more than the actual smell, rumor ruined and is still ruining my life. I have an organization that I belong to and I interact with a lot of people. The rumor about me has spread and they are really rude like covering their noses even without checking if I do smell. Others even shout out loud that 'someone smells like feet here' and looks at my feet even if I either do not smell anything that day or I have a itsy bitsy garlic smell because I was taking garlic then through my mouth (not even my feet). Most of the people in our organization are not educated people, poor people and I just shrug them off at times and put out my feet more when I'm confident I don't have smell. It's just them knowing of the rumor that makes them react that way. So hurtful and really hard to go out at times even if I love the organization itself. I also feel they are insecure because I am more accomplished than them in terms of success in life which is why they feel they are above than me just because of this odor rumor. Some friends turned their back on me and will make parties secret from our family and others invite my husband and not invite me. I feel this is because they don't want me to come. I am not interested in their parties at all. I don't like to be associated with people who are so uneducated and closed-minded. This is more hurtful when your family is affected. I had suicidal thoughts before but the love of my family is helping me somehow. I am still recovering from my dark thoughts and hoping to focus on my family and also for my son.
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Post by livininhope on Apr 14, 2017 19:59:14 GMT
Hi Reah
i am so sorry to hear about the way some people are treating you, it's horrible. Unfortunately I know what it is like, you definitely find out who your real friends are, although they may be few.
I check my feet daily to see if there are any small cuts, I have found that I sometimes develop a small cut under my small toe, or between my toes, although really small it definitely causes people to make comments. As a precaution I now put athlete's foot powder or cream on every night or every second night to prevent this problem. It definitely helps. Also I try to prevent a build up of hard skin on my feet as this is a breeding ground for bad bacteria.
please stay strong, and know you have friends on this site.
Best wishes.
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Post by Linda on Jul 1, 2018 11:53:04 GMT
Socks: indeed merino wool socks or other very good drywicking socks
Shoes: geox, or make sure it’s breathable shoes like leather
Insoles: Cedar wooden soles
Then ask yourself if this is a bacterial overgrowth, fungus or sweat problem. Best to always check with a dermatologist!!
Bacterial overgrowth: You can check if fucidin lotion (note it’s a medicine, don’t overuse) can help you. Sometimes anti acne lotion can help such as clindamycine or benzac 10% . The bacterias causing zits can sometimes be same bacetrias causing smell. Do please check a dermatologist before proceeding with these lotions
Fungus: check for topical antifungus like clotrimazole . Again, check with dermatologist.
Sweat: Apply strong anti perpirant (15–20% aluminium chloride), iontophoresis with glycopyronium bromide, surgery only if you have plantar hyperhidrosis (lumbar sympathetomy)
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