Are socks bad for your feet? If you are wondering if you should be wearing socks or limiting their usage because you are worried about your foot health I thought I would go into some detail as to why wearing socks can have amazing benefits.
Sure wearing dirty tatty and stinking socks isn’t going to be great for you but wearing fresh socks is an entirely different matter. Here’s what you need to know about socks and how they are far more helpful and useful than you think.
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Are Socks Good For Your Feet? – Their Role in Moisture Control
Feet have more sweat glands than just about anywhere else in the body. That means that when you are wearing shoes and walking around all day those glands get to work and produce moisture. If that moisture builds up in your shoes it makes them damp and sweaty and your feet will start to slip around inside your footwear causing blisters.
Sweaty feet caused by the excess moisture also make your shoes and boots a great breeding ground for bacteria and foot fungus. Athlete’s foot for example will thrive in that environment.
When you wear good moisture-wicking socks that are changed regularly your feet stay drier. This means less foot odor and fungal growth. This means that wearing clean wool or cotton socks can have a big benefit to your foot health.
Do Cushioned Socks Make a Difference?
Cushioned or comfort socks can really make a difference when you are wearing certain shoes or boots because they can make your footwear more comfortable.
Cushioned socks act as a barrier between your feet and the insole of your shoe. If your insoles are hard then they can cause discomfort without a pair of socks acting as a barrier between the two surfaces.
Wearing socks that have extra cushioning is especially important if you are walking a lot or doing activities such as running where your feet need a little extra protection.
Should You Wear Socks? – How It May Be Essential for Warmth
Socks serve a purpose in the wintertime when the weather starts to get colder as they keep your feet warm.
A thick pair of wool socks can keep your feet warm and toasty when you are wearing boots and shoes which is why you don’t see many people walking around without them when there is snow and ice on the ground.
It is important to keep your feet warm because if you don’t do this with your extremities when the weather is colder as it can impact your entire body temperature. Read about the importance of keeping your feet warm in my article on the topic.
Protecting Your Feet From Blisters
Are socks bad for your feet? Well, certainly not when you are using them as an extra layer of protection or padding from blisters.
New shoes in particular can sometimes be difficult to break in without socks. This is because those socks help to protect your feet whilst the shoe is still stiff and inflexible.
As moisture-wicking socks also soak up moisture from sweat they can help to prevent friction which can be the cause of foot pain from blisters or shoe bites.
Socks Can Be a Fashion Statement
Whilst wearing socks is usually done for practical reasons they can also be a fashion accessory as well.
Fashion socks come in different colors, patterns and lengths which allow you to match them to your outfit. They can help to show individuality and a sense of fun.
Whilst this has nothing to do with your foot health it can certainly brighten your mood and make you feel happier.
Does Wearing Socks All the Time Cause Dry Feet?
If you wear breathable socks in natural fabrics then they keep your feet drier and prevent Athlete’s foot and fungal infections.
Nylon socks however have the potential to dry your feet out because of the lack of natural fabrics. This means it makes sense to buy wool or cotton socks that allow your feet to stay dry from sweat but not dry out completely.
There are also moisturizing socks that you can buy that have been specially designed to hydrate your feet. They are usually worn to counteract dry or cracked skin. Use these when your feet need a little extra care and attention.
Is it Bad to Wear Socks All The Time? – Compression Socks Actually Help Your General Health
People often forget that there is more than one type of sock available on the market. Whilst the majority of us wear socks with shoes to stop sweaty feet and create comfort there are also compression socks and tights which are used for medical purposes.
I know I have just bought some compression socks to wear on a long-haul flight. This is to stop my feet from swelling up during the journey whilst I’m in the air.
Other people wear compression socks to improve blood flow so that they can stop swelling due to medical conditions such as varicose veins.
Compression socks are great for some health problems but they obviously aren’t designed for everyone to wear.
Wearing Socks for Hygiene Reasons
When I had the builders in my house doing work there was dust, dirt, and debris on the floor. Even when I hoovered the stuff up more seemed to appear until the building work was fully complete.
Whilst they were in the house I wore socks and my older slippers to protect my feet and keep them clean.
Don’t forget that floors have dirt and bacteria on them that can come into contact with your feet if you are walking around in bare feet. A good pair of cotton socks can help you to protect your feet from coming into contact with them and help your general health.
Using Socks For Protection From Sunlight
Have you ever walked around on a summer day and ended up getting sunburnt in a place where you weren’t expecting it?
Remember your feet can get sunburnt if you aren’t careful but socks do a great job of protecting our feet from those UV rays.
I have pale Irish skin so I’m always careful in the hotter weather to avoid too much sun and cover up to stop getting burned. Socks are just one part of my strategy to keep my skin healthy and avoid the dreaded sunburn.
What Happens if You Wear Socks All the Time?
Are socks bad for your feet? Well not if you wear socks that are changed at least once per day.
Clearly, smelly rancid dirty socks are never going to be great for your feet or health but when you wear fresh ones you are looking after your feet.
Socks actually have amazing benefits as you can see that can keep you from suffering health or foot problems plus they are a great fashion statement as well.
More Information About Socks
Do You Wear Socks With Birkenstocks
Do Black Socks Make Your Feet Stink More?
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