A natural, sophisticated air conditioning system has developed in humans over thousands of years. Everyone has around two to four million sweat glands, which are distributed almost everywhere over the entire skin, particularly concentrated on the forehead, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. The sweat glands form an acid secretion, a so-called protective acid mantle, on the surface of our skin. If it is hot or if our body is heated by exertion, the formation of this secretion increases and is vital for cooling our body. This secretion consists mainly of water, plus urea, salts, lactic acids, amino acids and the body’s own fats. Bacteria live in this mixture and break down these sweat components, thereby forming butyric acid, among other things. If parts of the body are now poorly ventilated, especially the soles of the feet, the odor process inevitably begins.
There are many colloquial terms for the intensely smelling feet, such as stinky feet, cheese feet or cheese mud. Not only is it uncomfortable for those affected when they have to take off their shoes in a changing room, at the doctor’s, with friends or while exercising, it also significantly affects their quality of life.