Rid yourself of Dirty, Smelly feet this monsoon!

We are all well aware of the problems of smelly feet. Whether it is shoes and socks, boots, or sandals for some reason we can't run away from smelly feet. The problem is embarrassing and ever existent!

But more care and concern needs to be given to our feet during the monsoons. Along with smelly feet we are also prone to feet infections and feet diseases that spread during the monsoons.

Why specifically the monsoons?

Monsoons are characterized by the humid, wet and sticky climate and this translates to sweaty feat, wet mucky shoes, fungal infections, athlete's foot and many other feet diseases. In fact we are more prone to other typical monsoon diseases like leptospirosis if we do not keep our feet clean.

The roads are full of water and mud which enter our foot wear. To make things worse, we wear the wet and dirty shoes in office for hours, and then return home with swollen, unclean and smelly feet.

The feet smell because bacteria feeds on the sweat of our feet, and during the monsoons they also breed on dirty water, mud and other waterborne substances which come in contact with our feet.

These factors make it difficult for us to maintain good foot hygiene, but it is in the monsoons that we must give more importance to foot care.

Ideal footwear

The first and foremost necessity is to wear appropriate footwear for the season. Many women and men may opt for shoes more for fashion than comfort or season requirement. They therefore end up wearing the wrong kind of footwear that can harm their feet. The wrong kind of footwear can also splash water and mud on your clothes making them dirty or spotted.

During the monsoons the roads are wet and slick with mud and fungus. At such times you need footwear that will give you good grip and will keep your feet as clean as possible.

• Flotters - Bright colored 'flotters', specially made for monsoon, are a rage among college students. You can flaunt them with jeans and skirts and kurtas too. Although the price tag is high for these waterproof floaters, they are worth investing on. They last for years.

• Flip flops - They are ideal for the rains and come in fabulous colors. Also, since they are usually made of rubber, they dry easily. But they could splash water and cheap brands could prove to be slippery on the roads. Make sure to get one with a good grip.

• Rain boots - The old fashioned boots are back in trend. Even women can wear them as they now come in various colors and designs. Ideal for our monsoons, these keep the feet well covered.

• Plastic \ rubber sandals - Typical monsoon footwear that is usually always available in abundance just before the monsoons. But make sure they fit well, as your feet needs to breathe. Also go for comfort rather than style or looks. Your feet need to be comfortable while travelling, etc.

** Sandals shouldn't have too much padding around the straps or else they will never dry and there's also the weird smell that comes along.

What to specifically avoid -

Mainly the kind of foot wear that needs to be avoided are:

• canvas shoes they soak up water and can get spoiled easily,

• formal suede or leather shoes the rain and puddle waters can again spoil them,

• socks especially if you cannot remove them where you work but need to sit in wet, dirty socks all day long and;

• High heels you can slip and fall as they have poor grip and can slide against the moss and fungus covered roads.

Keep them clean and hygienic

If you enjoy walking in the rain and getting wet then there's no harm. Just make sure you take good care of your feet afterwards.

• Dry feet - Dry your feet as regularly as possible once out of the rain. Always check for any traces of water especially between your toes.

• Antiseptic - Wash your feet with an antiseptic every time after returning home. It is necessary to keep the feet clean during monsoons as they are more prone to infections.

• Wash the sandals - Just as you wash your feet, wash your sandals also with a disinfectant and keep them in the sun to dry. If that isn't possible, drying under the fan or with a hair dryer is also fine.

• Natural disinfectants - Dunk tea bags in a warm basin of water and dip your feet in it. The tannic acid in tea kills bacteria and closes your pores. You can even clean your feet every evening with a spoonful of baking soda and vinegar in a warm tub of water. They act as natural disinfectants for your feet. To know more about Rid yourself of Dirty, Smelly feet this monsoon!