Dirty socks aren’t just smelly, they’re dangerous. According to a recent study, mosquitoes infected with the malaria parasite are significantly more attracted to human odors –in this case smelly socks –than uninfected mosquitoes.
Scientists collected human odor on nylon socks by asking participants to wear them for 20 hours and put them, along with clean socks, into an enclosure with mosquitoes. The bugs infected with P. falciparum landed on and probed the smelly socks more often.
None of the mosquitoes—infected or not—were especially drawn to the socks with no human odor.
Tackling Smelly Feet at East Ocean Podiatry
Many people struggle with foot odor, but by taking a few preventive measures, you can keep your feet dry. Feet smell for two reasons: footwear and sweat. The interaction of perspiration with the bacteria that thrives in shoes generates the odor. Therefore, you must address both the sweating and footwear. Fortunately, East Ocean Podiatry offers the tips and tricks that will help you reduce foot sweat and odor.
Some people, primarily men, have an inherited condition known as hyperhidrosis, which causes excessive sweating. Stress, some medications, fluid intake, and hormonal changes can also increase the amount of perspiration your body produces. If you think you may be suffering from hyperhidrosis, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with East Ocean to find out how we can help.
Call East Ocean Podiatry in Boca Raton at (561) 750-9400 or in Deerfield Beach at (954) 828-2601 today.