Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 2013, 3, 203-208 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2013.33031 Published Online September 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/jcdsa) 203 Topical 15% Zinc Sulfate Solution Is an Effective Therapy for Feet Odor * Khalifa E. Sharquie 1# , Adil A. Noaimi 2 , Saad D. Hameed 3 1 Scientific Council of Dermatology & Venereology-Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations, Department of Dermatology & Vene- reology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq; 2 Head of Department of Dermatology & Venereology, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq; 3 Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq. Email: # ksharquie@ymail.com, adilnoaimi@yahoo.com, saadhameed9@yahoo.com Received May 12 th , 2013; revised June 15 th , 2013; accepted June 23 rd , 2013 Copyright © 2013 Khalifa E. Sharquie et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Li- cense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT Background: Feet odor is a common sociomedical problem that affects the feet of human beings of different etiological factors. Multiple modalities of therapy have been used in the treatment of feet odor. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical 15% zinc sulfate solution in the treatment of feet odor. Patients and Methods: This single blind, placebo, controlled therapeutic study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology-Baghdad Teaching Hospital, from March 2010 to July 2011. A total of 108 (88 males and 20 females) patients with feet odor were enrolled and were divided into 2 groups: Group A: treated with 15% zinc sulfate solution. Group B: treated with distilled water as placebo control group. Full history and examination were carried out including all relevant points. Four scoring had been used to assess the severity of odor in patients with bared feet Score 0: no odor, Score 1: mild odor, Score 2: moderate odor and Score 3: severe odor. Zinc sulfate solution 15% was applied to sole and toe webs once daily for two weeks, three times per week for next two weeks and followed by single application weekly as maintenance after clearance of odor for two months. Patients were seen every two weeks to be examined and to score the odor again and to record side effects. Results: Group A: Fifty patients completed the study, their ages ranged from 8 - 68 (33 + 14.5) years, while the duration of the disease ranged from 1 - 180 (7.22 + 38.24) months. The complete clearance of feet odor after two weeks of ther- apy was 35 (70%) patients which was similar to two months maintenance therapy 35 (70%) and was highly statistically significant (p value = 0.0000001). Group B: Fifty patients received the placebo solution, their ages ranged from 16 - 75 (32.6 + 13.4) years, while the duration of the disease ranged from 1 - 180 (43.7 + 47.65) months. The complete clearance of feet odor was in 1 (2%) patient after two weeks therapy and after two months maintenance therapy. No side effects were recorded. Conclusions: Topical 15% zinc sulfate solution had an effective therapeutic and prophylactic action against feet odor. Keywords: Feet Odor; Topical; Zinc Sulfate 1. Introduction Feet odor is a common socio-medical problem, its etio- pathogenesis is not well elucidated but there are multi- factorial agents like sweating, bacterial, fungal infections, shoes and socks [1]. The most common type of bacteria of feet is Brevibac- teria which is considered a major cause of feet odor be- cause they ingest dead skin on the feet and, in the process, convert amino acid methionine into methanethiol, which has a sulfuric aroma and cheesy odor. Also Propioni- bacteria which thrive in the ducts of adolescent and adult sebaceous glands produce propionic acid as result of a breakdown product of amino acids, it has vinegar-like odor. Staphylococcus epidermidis also play a role in feet odor by degradation of leucine present in sweat and changed it to isovaleric acid, which give strong cheesy odor [2]. There are many systemic drugs like anticholinergic (glycopyrrolate) [3] and topical antibacterial drugs like erythromycin, clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide have been used in the treatment of feet odor [4]. Also, topical anti-perspiration agents like aluminum salts and ionto- * Disclosure: This study is an independent study and not funded by any drug company. # Corresponding author. Copyright © 2013 SciRes. JCDSA