SMELLY FEET

Dear Jellybean,

Ok this is going to sound really gross but... i have a problem. After a day at school when i take off my socks and shoes when i get home, my feet smell really bad. Like, I have to wash them when i get home because that smell. Like my new sneakers for school (even though i wore new socks) smelled like feet after just 3 DAYS OF SCHOOL!!! So now even if i am wearing new socks (which i have been) the smell gets trapped in them and it makes my shoes smell worse!!! What can I do???? Please help me Jellybean!!!! It is so embarrassing!!!
Love always,
Smelly feet

Dear Smelly feet,

Stinky feet are generally the result of excessive sweating of the feet, although this problem can also be caused by improperly ventilated shoes. Because you are concerned, I am sure you already wash your feet daily, which is the first step in combating this problem. Some more steps to try:

After washing your feet daily, be sure to dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.

Before putting on your socks, dust dry feet with a foot powder (such as Dr. Scholl's Original Foot Powder, available at drugstores).

Wear clean, soft cotton socks each day. Cotton allows your skin to breathe so they don't sweat as much. Plus, it is absorbent, so it soaks up moisture when you do sweat. (Other kinds of socks - those made from nylon or polyester, for example - don't let your feet breathe, and smelly feet can be the result).

You should wear shoes that allow your feet to breathe and avoid snug shoes made out of non-porous materials. Materials that let the feet breathe include leather, canvas, and mesh. Avoid plastic shoes.

Change your socks at least once a day (change your shoes as well if you do sweat a lot).

It is best not to wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. If feet are sweaty, shoes need time to dry out. Remove the inner soles from shoes when you're not wearing them to help with the drying.

If these measures don't help, visit your doctor to get your feet checked out. Occasionally a foot infection or fungus can cause a bad odor, and your doctor can let you know if this is what's going on here. Doctors can also prescribe stronger medications than you can get in drugstores, which you can apply to feet to prevent odor and sweating.