Smelly feet? Doctor reveals genius hack to banish bad odors in seconds, using a kitchen cupboard staple
- Dr. Joe Whittington shared tips for getting rid of annoying foot odor on TikTok
- The doctor, who has 1.8 million fans, showed tricks using household products
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A doctor has revealed his top tips for getting rid of foot odor and toenail fungus, which affects as many as one in four Americans.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency physician in California, posted two TikTok videos this week with the top tips he’s learned as a doctor.
In the videos, he showed his 1.8 million followers hacks such as swallowing a spoonful of honey for a sore throat, using cornstarch for skin irritation and snorting rubbing alcohol to cure nausea.
Dr. Whittington also showed two tips for getting rid of foot odor and athlete’s foot, a common fungal infection that leads to itchy and burning skin.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency physician in California, posted two TikTok videos this week with the top tips he’s learned as a doctor
Dr. Whittington also showed two tips for getting rid of foot odor and athlete’s foot, a common fungal infection that leads to itchy and burning skin.
In the first video, which has been viewed about 42,000 times, he reaches into his kitchen cupboard and pulls out a box of black tea.
The caption for the video reads: ‘Black tea for foot odor: Soak feet in black tea for 20 minutes to reduce foot odor as the tannins kill bacteria and close pores.’
Tannins, also known as tannic acid, are a type of compound called polyphenols found in plants. Plants produce these as a defense mechanism against pests, and tannins also contribute to a plant’s color and flavor.
Other common sources of tannins include coffee, wine and chocolate.
These compounds are believed to have antioxidant properties, meaning they destroy free radicals, which contribute to inflammation and several chronic diseases.
These properties are also thought to clog the sweat glands, which can cause odor.
Tannic acid is only found in black tea and not in herbal or green tea. However, there are no studies that support the idea that black tea actually prevents your feet from smelling.
Experts estimate that as many as one in four Americans has athlete’s foot at some point
In his second video, which has almost 58,000 views, Dr. Whittington shows a close-up of his feet and drops a bottle of Listerine mouthwash between them.
‘Mouthwash can combat athlete’s foot!’ reads text on the screen.
Athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that usually forms between the toes.
Although it can affect anyone, Mayo Clinic states that it most often occurs in people whose feet have become sweaty while confined in tight-fitting shoes, such as a pair of running shoes.
Athlete’s foot can affect one or both feet. Common symptoms include flaky or peeling skin between the toes, itching, inflamed skin, burning or stinging sensations, blisters and dry skin on the bottom of the foot.
Experts estimate that as many as one in four Americans has athlete’s foot at some point.
Mouthwashes such as Listerine contain thymol, which has antifungal and antibacterial properties.
This could help kill the fungus, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
However, these properties have only been studied in the mouth and no research has been done into whether mouthwash can kill athlete’s foot.