Q: I am not writing for help so much as I am writing so your readers can be informed. Many shoe companies are putting antimicrobial foot beds in their shoes to help with sweating and odor. I have also read that athletic socks are being made with some kind of antimicrobial material to prevent foot odors. I have found that I am very allergic to whatever is in these foot beds. After wearing a new pair of sandals, my feet started itching and burning.
I went to my doctor who prescribed Clobetasol Propionate cream and gave me a round of prednisone. My feet swelled so much I could not get my shoes on. My feet were itching and burning, then blistered. At this point they are all brown and burnt looking on the bottoms and are very sore. One foot has started peeling behind my pinkie toe. I am sure it will be months before my feet are back to normal.
I am a type 2 diabetic so this whole ordeal has been particularly worrisome. Please give your readers some kind of warning. I am sure I am not the only person in your reading audience who is allergic to the antimicrobial insoles. Thank you.
A: We hear and read about allergies all the time – from the air we breathe, the foods we consume, the drugs we may take, and so on; however, most of us would never think we could have a severe allergic reaction from new shoes because of a liner that cannot be seen or felt. Feet are sensitive and are certainly susceptible to unexpected reactions, such as the severe one you experienced. The fact that you have diabetes only complicated an already difficult situation and it would require diligent research to determine what specific ingredient in the insole caused your reaction but thanks to your physician, you appear to finally be on the road to recovery.
The antimicrobial insoles to which you refer fit into footwear and are designed to kill odors, viruses and fungi. They aren’t new, in fact they have been around in one form or another for about 20 years. Our feet and hands contain roughly 3,000 sweat glands per square inch – more than any other part of our bodies. This cannot only cause embarrassment when our feet sweat and have an odor, but can be downright uncomfortable. In your case, a company that took steps to approach one issue (the odor), inadvertently caused another (an allergy).
On the market today are thin silver “linings” designed for women who wear shoes but not socks. The technology is purported to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. The linings are moisture absorbent, have anti-slip grips, and are EPA registered with clearance from the FDA. The product works through the controlled release of silver ions that attack microbes and inhibit their growth. These liners differ from antimicrobial insoles in that they work for up to a month and are then discarded and replaced with a new set.
We all know that after a while the shoes we wear carry an odor that just won’t quit, no matter what steps we take. We can put our shoes out of doors in the sunlight to bake dry and smell better. We can spray them with aerosols or dump powders such as baking soda or over-the-counter remedies in them to cut down on odors. Yet, while our efforts may mask odors, they typically don’t destroy those microbes that cause odors in the first place. And, we could be subjecting ourselves to an allergy.
So, for individuals that lean toward having allergies but don’t feel like springing for expensive remedies for foot odors, consider placing a dryer sheet in each shoe while wearing them; rotate the shoes you wear, which will allow them to dry out on alternate days; wear moisture-wicking socks that will help keep feet dry; or simply wash your feet every other day with anti-microbial soap. I must interject there is a school of thought that antibacterial soaps are dangerous. The jury is still out on whether they actually work any better at killing or inhibiting the spread of germs than good old-fashioned soap and water which merely wash away germs before they reach a dangerous level. One purported good home remedy involves boiling two bags of black tea in a pint of water for 15 minutes. Add two quarts of cool water and soak your feet in the solution. Or, a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water for control.
And for those individuals that are prone to allergies, it is important to either read the label on the shoe box or ask if the soles have been treated with antimicrobials. Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. Without it, I likely would never have covered the topic of allergic reaction that can result from purchasing new treated sandals and foot odor.
