Bromodosis refers to the medical condition of foot odor. This condition is typically caused by excessive sweating in the feet, which creates an ideal environment for bacteria to grow. The growth and development of these bacteria leads to the unpleasant odor commonly associated with foot odor.
In addition to excessive bacteria, heat, poorly air-conditioned shoes, inappropriate sock and shoe selection, foot fungal infections, and poor hygiene habits can also cause foot odor. You can avoid the annoying foot odor problem by knowing the preventive measures.
How to prevent foot odor?
There are several effective ways you can use to prevent foot odor problems, including:
Foot soak/foot bath
Soaking feet with vinegar or Epsom salts can help reduce moisture, treat fungus, prevent odor, and prevent infection. The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of vinegar and Epsom salts are useful in preventing foot odor problems.
Add vinegar to the foot bath water to make a vinegar foot bath and soak your feet for 10-20 minutes. Add Epsom salt to warm water and soak your feet for 30-60 minutes twice a week.
Be careful not to over-soak your feet as these two ingredients can cause dryness and loss of skin moisture. Apply a moisturizer after soaking your feet to prevent dryness, cracking and irritation.
Read more: Manfaat Garam Epsom bagi Kesehatan Tubuh
Keeping skin dry
Keeping your feet dry is one of the important steps in preventing foot odor and other skin problems. You need to dry your feet well after showering or swimming, change your socks regularly, especially after exercise or excessive sweating, choose sock materials that absorb sweat well, choose shoes with good circulation, or use foot powder containing antiperspirants to help reduce sweat and prevent bacterial growth.
Disinfecting the shoes
Spraying disinfectants on your shoes can help eliminate odors and kill bacteria that can cause them. However, ensure the disinfectant you choose is safe for shoes.
Also read: Mengapa Penting Memilih Sepatu yang Tepat saat Berolahraga?
Using antiperspirants
Using antiperspirants on your feet can effectively prevent foot odor and reduce sweat odor production. Antiperspirants contain active ingredients that can help reduce moisture and clog sweat glands to reduce excessive sweating.
Before applying antiperspirant you should make sure your feet are clean and dry. Apply it evenly on the soles of the feet and the bottom of the fingers, and let it dry before you put on your shoes.
If you suddenly experience foot odor, you should immediately check and look for signs of injury or infection in the feet. Also observe if there is any change in skin color such as redness, blackness or swelling.
Get yourself checked and consult a doctor if in addition to experiencing foot odor, you also experience pain in your feet or signs of infection. If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or use the consultation features available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr. Monica Salim