My Child's Feet Smell Terrible!! Why Do Kids' Feet Smell, and How Can I Fix It?

2022.06.10

Summer is getting closer! As temperatures rise and kids stay active, sweat and body odor often follow. In a humid place like Taiwan, moisture and sweat are easy to come by whatever the weather. Too much moisture gives bacteria a great place to grow, and sweating can also lead to smelly feet. So what should you do when your child's feet smell?

A Child's Smelly Feet After Outdoor Play

Causes of Kids' Foot Odor

1. Sweaty, Damp Feet

The soles have many sweat glands and sweat easily. Besides water and salt, sweat contains lactic acid and urea. In sweaty, damp conditions, foot sweat softens and breaks down keratin on the feet, forming dead skin; bacteria on the feet multiply and feed on it, and together with the urea and lactic acid in sweat, this gives off an odor.

Sweaty, Damp Feet

2. Poor-Quality Socks or Shoes

Sometimes foot odor comes from wearing poor-quality socks, or from shoes that are not breathable and let no air flow, so the odor builds up and causes foot odor.

3. Lack of Vitamin B

A child's foot odor can also be caused by a lack of vitamin B. Vitamin B1 improves appetite and supports normal nerve function; a lack of vitamin B1 may lead to athlete's foot, neurodermatitis, and more.

4. Family Members With Athlete's Foot

Foot odor may also be due to athlete's foot, which is caused by a fungal infection and can spread if anyone in the family has it! So besides watching your child's feet, parents should check whether they have any foot conditions themselves!

Family Members With Athlete's Foot

How to Improve Kids' Foot Odor

1. Keep Feet Dry

Keep Feet Dry

Damp environments become breeding grounds for bacteria. Have your child wear highly breathable shoes and socks, and avoid long periods of exercise in humid or hot conditions to reduce sweaty, damp feet and limit bacterial growth.

2. Keep Shoes Dry and Rotate Two or More Pairs

Shoe insoles and shoe fabric can absorb foot sweat, causing dampness and odor. We suggest having two or more pairs of shoes to alternate. When it rains, stuff newspaper into shoes to absorb moisture, or dry them with a hair dryer or shoe dryer. For daily use, bamboo charcoal or diatomite desiccant packs help keep shoes dry, and remember to open the shoe cabinet regularly to let moisture escape.

3. Use Antibacterial, Bacteriostatic, and Deodorizing Products

Use Antibacterial, Bacteriostatic, and Deodorizing Products

Some kids sweat a lot from their feet and have trouble staying dry. At the very least, wear cotton and bacteriostatic functional socks as a first line of defense, and you can also use antibacterial or foot-odor products to prevent odor more effectively.

After reading the causes and remedies above, do you understand foot odor better?

Foot odor isn't scary. With the methods above, you can greatly improve your child's smelly feet.

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