Others Can Smell My Foot Odor, But I Usually Can’t
Others Can Smell My Foot Odor, But I Usually Can’t
I used to be able to smell my foot odor when I sweated, but after I started using antiperspirant, I stopped noticing it. Later, when I went back to school, people could still smell my foot odor even when I was wearing shoes, but I often couldn’t smell it myself.
When I smell my feet, socks, or shoes directly, there’s usually no obvious odor. My family and doctors can’t smell anything either. But my classmates and teachers have definitely noticed it and sometimes say things like, “Who hasn’t washed their feet? It smells so bad.” I don’t think this is bullying, because I experienced the same thing throughout middle and high school.
The smell also comes and goes. Sometimes I can briefly smell it when air blows past me or when I’m in a closed classroom. It usually smells like foot odor, but sometimes it smells a bit like ammonia or something chemical.
I don’t have athlete’s foot—no itching, rash, or anything unusual. I also had bacterial/fungal tests done, and nothing abnormal was found. I’ve tried different antibacterial and antifungal creams, but they didn’t help.
My family still can’t smell anything, so they took me to a psychiatrist. I’ve been taking sertraline and tandospirone for about five months. My psychiatrist can’t smell anything either, which makes me worried that he thinks it’s all in my head.
I don’t really think this is PATM or TMAU either, because based on what my classmates have said, the odor they notice seems specifically like foot odor.
I’m just wondering if anyone has experienced something similar—other people can smell an odor, but you usually can’t smell it yourself. 🥲
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Taking zinc can help with foot odor. I take 22mg twice daily of zinc picolinate from Swanson's Vitamins. I haven't had foot odor in years. My feet can feel sweaty, but they are dry to the touch. My shoes don't stink either. You don't need a lot of zinc so avoid those large sizes. I take it at lunchtime and bedtime.
Okay, thanks for the suggestion! I’ll give it a try.