Do your feet get smellier in winter?

Which smells do you associate with winter? Perhaps cinnamon, pine needles, wood smoke and other scents that make you feel cosy and nostalgic. You probably wouldn't put sweat and body odour on the list. But if you've noticed an embarrassing pong coming from your feet during the colder temperatures, you're not alone. And it's not actually so surprising.

We tend to think of smelly feet as something we should only worry about in the summer. But it's an affliction that can happen in all seasons. Luckily, bromodosis (the medical term for smelly feet) is not usually a cause for concern.

What causes feet to smell?

"Smelly feet can be pretty common, especially if you wear the same shoes every day, lace them tightly, or are on your feet a lot," explains Dr Daniel Cichi from iMeds.

"Your feet have more sweat glands than any other part of your body - even your armpits! It's completely normal for your feet to produce more than a pint of sweat in any given day. When they begin to smell, what you're actually smelling is the bacteria that live on the skin of your feet and 'eat' your sweat."

Des étude in 2006 confirmed that the bacterium called Staphylococcus epidermidis (which lives on the skin) loves to feed on a chemical in our sweat, called leucine. The breakdown of leucine produces isovaleric acid which is the true culprit for the familiar cheesy odour that results.

What's important is not really how much your feet sweat, but the amount of sweat that gets trapped in your footwear, says Cichi. If there's nowhere for that moisture to go, you're going to notice a smell. And not allowing your feet to breathe is something that can easily happen in colder weather.

"In winter, in order to keep warm, people wear extra layers of socks, or a warmer blend with closed-in boots or shoes. Your feet will naturally sweat, creating a damp, warm environment that bacteria love," says podiatrist Dina Gohil.

Heat isn't the only thing that causes feet to sweat, either. Stepping out into the cold, or a sudden change in temperature, can also cause our feet to perspire.

So now we know what causes stinky feet, how can we go about solving the problem? Not many of us would be willing to swap our sturdy winter boots for a pair of flip-flops when the mercury drops. Luckily, you don't have to.

Gohil explains that practising good foot hygiene is a good first step.

"There are several things you can do, such as washing your feet thoroughly and drying them properly. Wearing moisture-wicking socks and using antibacterial shoe spray can help too."

She advises having more than one pair of shoes for each season, so you can alternate every day. Choose wisely when it comes to footwear - leather and suede materials will be more breathable and able to withstand damp conditions better than synthetic fabrics.

"If sweat is a problem for you, you can use deodorant on your feet, whichever one you currently use, to try to keep them dry," suggests GP Dr Daniel Atkinson, clinical lead, at Treated.com. "If that doesn't work, you can try powders to absorb sweat. Or, something as simple as sports socks, that are designed to keep your feet dry when you're exercising, could do the trick. And be sure to wear socks with trainers or any closed-toe shoes."

In the majority of cases, the tips above should ensure you don't have to worry about bromodosis anymore. But could the symptom ever suggest a more serious medical cause? Atkinson says it's quite unlikely.

"It tends to be an easy issue to clear up. It can mean you have a fungal infection or you could be suffering from hyperhidrose where your sweat glands produce excess sweat which can lead to odour."

He says if you've made positive changes to your footwear routine and are keeping your feet clean but are still having a problem, or are producing sweat in abnormally high amounts, you should speak with your GP.

"If you;re diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, you may be referred for iontophoresis that delivers a mild current to your feet to reduce sweating, or you may just need an antiperspirant. Likewise, if you're using creams to clear up infections like pied d'athlète [a fungal infection that causes the skin on your feet to crack, flake, blister and itch] but it isn't getting better, it's advised that you chat with your doctor," he adds.

"Certain medications and poor hygiene can also lead to foot odour, but the biggest culprit is usually overwearing the same shoes without giving them adequate time to air. Smelly feet aren't usually anything to be majorly concerned with, unless they are causing you considerable distress," agrees Cichi.