When it comes to foot odor, children’s feet can behave just like adults’ feet. Depending on how long the problem has been ignored, they can smell like sweat or rancid vinegar. You’ll still love them because they are your kids, but you might end up loving their feet a little less.
So instead of loving their feet less, we suggest loving their feet a little more! Fight children’s foot odor by:
●Washing feet every day – Foot odor is caused by bacteria and fungi. By washing feet each night, you can kill odor-causing bacteria and give your children’s feet a chance to dry out.
●Not sharing towels or shoes – Yes, sharing is caring, but in this case, sharing can lead to the transfer of bacteria or fungi. These microorganisms can survive and cause foot odor to other members of your family.
●Wearing different shoes each day – If your child tends to sweat a lot due to hyperhidrosis, you’ll want to make sure that they wear different shoes from one day to the next. Wearing them consecutively might not give the shoes enough time to dry out. Since bacteria and fungi need warm and damp environments to thrive, drying them out would help kill them off.
●Wearing socks and changing them often – If your child will wear closed-toed shoes, make sure he or she wears socks with them. Sweat will be absorbed by the socks instead of the shoes. Socks are easier to wash than shoes, so you can have your child easily change into a new pair of socks midday when they become damp from sweat.
You and your children do not have to be embarrassed by foot odor anymore! If foot odor is persistent, try some powder in their shoes or get prescription foot powder from our podiatrist. Make an appointment today for a consultation at New Jersey Children’s Foot Health Institute at Clark Podiatry Center. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brandon Macy will assess your children’s feet to find the best solution for stinky feet! We are located in Clark, NJ and serve patients in all the surrounding Union County towns!