Overview

Foot odor can happen when you wear shoes that don't "breathe." Most often, when you take off your shoes, wash your feet, and put on clean, dry socks, the odor goes away. Sometimes, though, the problem continues.

Persistent foot odor may be a sign of:

• A bacterial infection. Prescription medicine may be needed to clear up the problem.
• A fungal infection. Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that most often causes a slight odor.