- Dr. Joe Whittington shared tips on TikTok to get rid of foot odor
- The doctor, who has 1.8 million followers, showed tricks with household products
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A doctor has revealed his best tricks for getting rid of foot odor and toenail fungus, which affects one in four Americans.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency room doctor in California, posted two videos on TikTok this week sharing the top tips he learned as a doctor.
In the videos, she showed her 1.8 million followers tricks like swallowing a spoonful of honey for a sore throat, using cornstarch for skin irritation, and sniffing isopropyl 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 causes itchy and burning skin.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency room doctor in California, posted two videos on TikTok this week sharing the top tips he 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 causes itchy and burning skin.
In the first video, which has around 42,000 views, he reaches into the kitchen cabinet and pulls out a box of black tea.
The title of the video reads: “Black tea for foot odor: Soak your 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, which can be found in plants. Plants produce them as a defense mechanism against pests, and tannins also contribute to the color and flavor of the plant.
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 believed to clog sweat glands, which can cause bad odor.
Tannic acid is only found in black tea rather than herbal or green tea. However, there are no studies to support the idea that black tea actually prevents smelly feet.
Experts estimate that one in four Americans suffers from athlete’s foot at any given time.
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!’ The text is read 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, the Mayo Clinic states that it is most commonly found in people whose feet sweat while confined in tight shoes, such as a pair of running shoes.
Athlete’s foot can affect one or both feet. Common symptoms include scaly or peeling skin between the toes, itching, inflamed skin, burning or stinging, blisters, and dry skin on the bottom of the foot.
Experts estimate that one in four Americans suffers from athlete’s foot at any given time.
Mouthwashes like Listerine contain thymol, which has antifungal and antibacterial properties.
This could help you eliminate the fungus that causes uncomfortable symptoms.
However, these properties have only been studied in the mouth and there has been no research into whether mouthwash can kill foot fungus.