A strong foot smell is easy to dismiss as ordinary sweat, but there is a lesser-known condition where the smell can appear alongside tiny pits in the skin.
The condition is called pitted keratolysis. DermNet describes it as a superficial bacterial infection that usually affects pressure-bearing areas of the soles.
The name comes from the characteristic pits that can appear on the skin. They can look like tiny craters and may become more obvious when the feet are wet.
The bacteria responsible thrive in warm and moist conditions. Excessive sweating and enclosed footwear can therefore create circumstances that favour the infection.
The smell can be particularly noticeable because the bacteria produce compounds associated with malodour. DermNet says sulfur-containing compounds are involved in the characteristic smell.
Interestingly, pitted keratolysis may not always be painful. Some people may notice mainly the smell and changes to the skin, although itching or discomfort can occur.
That makes awareness important. Someone who notices persistent strong odour together with unusual pits or softened skin on the soles should not automatically assume that the problem is simply ordinary sweating.
The condition is treatable, but the correct diagnosis matters. A healthcare professional can distinguish it from other causes of foot odour and decide what treatment is appropriate.
Perhaps the strangest thing about pitted keratolysis is that the feet can provide two clues at once: an unusually strong smell and a pattern of tiny changes in the skin.
Could tiny pits on the soles of your feet be an overlooked clue behind an unusually persistent foot smell?
