How to get rid of smelly feet?

I don't even know where to start with this, but things have reached a breaking point. My brother has feet that smell so bad it’s actually insane. It’s been going on for years now, and the second he walks into a room, the whole place reeks—it’s a heavy, stinging kind of stench that practically burns your eyes. He washes up constantly, but the smell won't budge. He claims it’s just because he's in shoes all day, but I highly doubt that; my dad wears work boots all day long and doesn't have this issue. Seriously, does anyone have any actual advice? Are there specific creams or gels that actually work? I keep pushing him to see a dermatologist, but he refuses, and honestly, the rest of us can't take it anymore!🙄

Maybe it’s just his socks or the shoes he's wearing...

The absolute gold standard for foot creams.

Diagnosis: common household fungus
Treatment options: see a dermatologist or just amputate both legs😛

Ideally, they should have actual cotton socks—think LL Bean quality, not some cheap knockoff that just claims to be cotton—and genuine leather shoes.

papa štrumf said:Stick to real cotton socks (like LL Bean, not some cheap brand that just claims they're cotton) and full leather shoes.

I’m with him on this... You NEED leather and actual cotton socks. One pro tip: rub some tea tree oil on your feet after washing them and before putting your socks on. It works wonders for disinfecting and killing any fungus or odors...

He should probably just hit up a nail salon to get that dead skin scrubbed off (it’s clearly starting to stink)

Thanks for the advice, everyone!🙂

you see, I suppose nobody actually suggested washing one's feet

Since she already mentioned that she washes her feet 😛
If anyone is actually struggling with this issue, simple washing isn't going to be a silver bullet...

Beyond all the points I've laid out above, you also have foot and shoe sprays available.
So, it’s time to head over to the mall 😁

The heavy hitter here is the cream—supposedly works wonders if you actually stick with it. Also, try switching to cotton socks, grabbing a slightly roomier fit, and opting for more breathable shoes.

I just remembered this one commercial for some Dr. Gewohl product.

The guy brings a girl home, things start getting a little flirty, then he takes off his shoes and the whole romantic vibe just dies instantly. 🤣

Check your DMs or hit up a CVS or something—I can't even remember the name of the product.

Reminded me of my friend's old man 😬

He’ll definitely be swapping out those shoes.

You can pick up some Gewohl oil at most local pharmacies, which is roughly $17. It’s quite effective at wiping out fungus—at least, in my experience, it works.🙂

If he were just buying cheap plastic footwear to pass as leather
instead of actual quality shoes that cost a bit more
->there wouldn't be a body count following him everywhere... 😬

How old is your brother now?
We dealt with similar issues in my house when my brother hit his teenage years... we aren't exactly the sensitive type of family, but the smell was just unbearable... 🙂
Nothing we tried seemed to make a dent...
Once he finally grew out of puberty, the whole thing just stopped... it resolved itself without any intervention whatsoever...🙂

This could stem from several factors, such as stress or hormonal imbalances.
I would strongly suggest cotton socks with at least an 80 percent cotton content. That is the absolute minimum!
Leather footwear is also key—try to own several pairs so he can rotate them daily.

Rather than dealing with various creams and oils, I would recommend a foot deodorant spray instead. You can find them at Walmart for about five dollars. They are incredibly easy to apply, unlike oils or creams, which can be quite a hassle. The results are fantastic! Buy him a spray as soon as possible; it will be a lifesaver!

Betty Patel17 said:Forget all those messy creams and oils; if I were you, I’d just grab a foot deodorizing spray. You can find them at Walmart for maybe around $3 or $4. They’re so much easier to deal with than oils or lotions, which honestly feel like such a hassle. The results are actually pretty incredible! Just get him a spray as soon as possible and you'll both be relieved.

I suppose those standard deodorants work fine for "normal" body odor, but for situations like this, you probably need something a bit more "heavy-duty" (trust me😬).
Oil isn't really an issue, though; you just take a few drops after a shower and massage it into the skin. There are specific ingredients that kill off those fungi and bacteria... plus, it feels quite nice on the feet—so much so that you might find yourself wanting to apply it to other parts of your body too🤣

joop said:How old is your brother?
we dealt with stuff like this with my brother back when he hit puberty... we aren't exactly a touchy-feely family, but the smell was just unbearable... 🙂
nothing worked...
once he grew out of his teenage years, it just stopped... on its own...🙂

Well, he’s not some teenager, he’s 22. I might try that unknown oil, maybe God will let it work.

if he wasn't buying cheap plastic shoes that look like leather -> instead of actual decent shoes that cost more
then there wouldn't be any dead bodies near him

That's not it, he's the last person who would buy junk shoes; he always spends big money on footwear, so I guess the problem really is just those feet... ugh...

3nina3 said:He isn't exactly some teenager, he's actually 22. I suppose I'll give that unknown oil a shot; maybe God will let it actually work.

I'd suggest making sure his feet are thoroughly dried after washing—it might be worth paying extra attention to the spaces between the toes when drying and applying any creams. It also probably wouldn't hurt to rotate between at least two different pairs of shoes so they actually have a chance to air out and dry completely.👍