Foot odor is a pretty common problem. That is good for us, at least in the sense that it gives us the opportunity to offer what we believe is the very best shoe odor eliminator on the market. That notwithstanding, people have asked us why their foot odors seem to diminish in the winter.
We are by no means medical professionals. Therefore, we wouldn’t even think of offering a medical diagnosis. But we can offer some possibilities based on what we know about odors and eliminating them. Just know that not everyone has the same experience. For every person whose foot odor diminishes in the winter, there is another whose problem gets worse.
What Causes Foot Odor
Most foot odor problems are the result of bacterial or fungal growth. The thing is that human skin is loaded with beneficial bacteria that exist to help fight germs. Under normal circumstances, the bacterial balance is fine and there are no problems. But if that balance gets out of whack, excessive bacterial growth can cause odors. Knowing this gives us a clue as to why some people notice that their foot odors go away as the temperature drops.
Perspiration Is a Problem
For these types of people, it is a good bet that perspiration is part of the foot odor problem. Perspiration encourages bacteria to grow. The more you perspire, the greater the chance that the bacterial balance on the skin could get out of whack. This explains why so many people with hyperhidrosis complain of having stinky shoes.
If perspiration is one of the culprits in your case, think about how much more you perspire during the summer months. Add to that the fact that you are likely to wear socks less frequently during the summer. Wearing shoes without socks is an open invitation to excess bacteria that leads to stinky shoes.
Cooler Winter Temperatures
The opposite of the summer coin is winter. Even though we run furnaces in our homes, winter air is cooler than summer air. Not only that, but it also gets downright cold outside. The icing on the cake is that cooler air is also drier air. So from top to bottom, your feet have fewer opportunities to perspire and encourage excess bacterial growth.
Here is something else to consider – you are more likely to wear socks in the winter. Socks help a great deal by absorbing perspiration and wicking it away from the feet. A good pair of socks also prevents your shoes from soaking up perspiration. None of this is good news for bacteria.
A Common Juxtaposition
For people whose foot odors get better in the winter, it is really a juxtaposition of sorts. Warm summer weather offers more opportunities to go without socks in favor of open-toed shoes or sandals. One would think that the extra air circulation would reduce perspiration and subsequent foot odors.
On the other hand, keeping your feet entirely enclosed during the winter would seem to create bigger problems by encouraging perspiration and eliminating airflow. It would seem that stinky shoes should be worse during the winter.
At the end of the day, people react differently. Some find that foot odors are terrible during the summer and nearly nonexistent in the winter. Other people find just the opposite. It is really just a matter of how each individual foot responds to air temperature, humidity, airflow, and perspiration.
The one thing we can say in every case is that a good shoe spray is invaluable. And among all shoe odor eliminators on the market, we believe shoe fresh is the best.