what makes feet stink
Feet stink mostly because sweat gets trapped, bacteria and sometimes fungus feast on it, and the smelly chemicals they release build up in your shoes and socks.
Quick Scoop
What actually makes feet stink?
When your feet are in shoes all day, thousands of sweat glands pump out moisture that can’t evaporate easily, so it stays warm and damp. Natural skin bacteria love this environment, eat the sweat, oils, and dead skin, and then release acidic waste products that smell sharp or vinegary. In some people, a specific bacterium (Kytococcus sedentarius) makes sulfur compounds that can smell like rotten eggs, so the odor can be really strong. Fungi, like those that cause athlete’s foot, also thrive in sweaty shoes and can add a musty or “cheesy” smell.
Why some people’s feet smell more
Several things can crank up the odor:
- Extra-sweaty feet (a condition called hyperhidrosis) mean more moisture for bacteria to feed on.
- Hormonal changes in puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, as well as in teens generally, can increase sweating.
- Hot weather, intense exercise, standing all day, or being overweight all boost foot sweat and trap more moisture in shoes.
- Wearing the same closed shoes every day, not letting them dry, or skipping socks keeps feet in a dark, damp, bacteria‑friendly environment.
A simple way to picture it: shoes + sweat + bacteria = odor factory.
Quick notes from recent health info
Recent clinic and hospital guides (updated through 2024–2026) still point to the same basic trio behind foot odor: sweat, bacteria, and sometimes fungi, with bromodosis as the medical name for chronically smelly feet. They also stress that while it’s embarrassing, it’s usually harmless and often improves with good hygiene, dry breathable footwear, and treating any fungal infections if present.
TL;DR: Feet stink because trapped sweat feeds bacteria (and sometimes fungus), which then pump out smelly acids and sulfur compounds, especially in hot, damp, closed‑in shoes.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.