The smelly feet

Have you ever heard of a condition called Pitted Keratolysis?
A mouthful for a condition caused by certain bacteria with long names. Some of them include Micrococcus, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium amongst others.

It usually presents with craters under the feet almost looking like there’s loss of the skin in different areas under the feet. Imagine if a rat came in the night to take a meal under your feet? Nibbling different areas? That’s usually the way this infection looks like. It affects the soles of the feet most times but may also affect the palms.

In addition to the look…it is also associated with malodorous smell and this is one of the major reasons why the patients present. Does not have any major symptom apart from the smell and the look. It can run a long course especially if not diagnosed on time.

Risk factors include hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and people that wear occlusive shoes like boots worn by military men.

How is it managed? Counseling about lifestyle including wearing less occlusive shoes, change socks frequently, air shoes regularly and maintain good personal hygiene. Use of aluminum chloride hexahydrate roll antiperspirants may be needed in people that sweat excessively.

Some topical antibiotics and occasionally oral antibiotics that will cover the organisms that cause this condition will also be needed. Usually quite easy to treat once it is diagnosed. May recur especially if those lifestyle changes are not adhered to.

So next time you remove your footwear and this putrid smell is coming from your feet, be sure to check under your feet that you don’t have this infection. See a doctor for further treatment if you do.

A close differential (look alike) is a fungal infection called tinea pedis. That will present more with fissures and cracks on the soles rather than the look in this condition.

Any questions or comments?