Is Going Sockless Unhealthy?

Any fashion concerns aside, going sockless in closed shoes can be hazardous to the health of your feet. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/hygiene-tips/sockless-bad-for-feet.htm

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Brainstuff, production of I Heart Radio. Hey Brainstuff
Lauren bog Obam here stylish Italian and French dudes have
been bearing their ankles for years, and now the sockless
trend has reached the fashion mainstream for men on this
side of the pond too. But if you're thinking about
rocking a pair of loafers sand socks, medical professionals want

(00:25):
you to know that you could be putting your feet
at risk. For the article this episode is based on
How Stuff Works. Spoke with Dr John Chisholm, a podiatrist
in Chula Vista, California and president of California Pediatric Medical Association. Chisholm,
like most foot doctors, is a big fan of socks.
He says that socks serve two important functions. They reduce

(00:47):
friction between the shoe and the skin, which prevents blisters
and abrasions, and they provide a physical barrier between the
foot and the microbial petri dish that is a sweaty shoe,
and said, if you were to take a screw araping
off of a well worn leather shoe, you'd find it's
a zoo of microorganisms that can cause disease. In the
human foot. He noted that the number one threat is

(01:10):
the athletes's foot fungus. A quote it likes places that
are dark, warm, and don't have a lot of circulation,
like the inside of a shoe. Notes that the athletes'
foot fungus is not only the cause of the classic
raw scaly patches between toes, but also most toenail fungal outbreaks.
Socks can stave off athletes foot in two ways. First,

(01:33):
they prevent the fungus from transferring directly from the shoe
material to these skin or nail, and second, socks stop
sweat from pooling the shoe by absorbing and wicking sweat
up the ankle and calf where it can evaporate. So
if you ask a pediatrist if it's okay to wear
leather dress shoes without socks, they may make a colorful

(01:54):
but clear analogy. As Chisholm did. He said, wearing shoes
day after day without socks would be like wearing your
underwear day after day without washing them. If you're going
sockless entirely for fashion reasons, there's a simple solution. No
show socks. These extra low cut dress and athletic socks
are designed to stay hidden below the shoe line while

(02:17):
providing protection against blisters and sweaty feet. Previously only available
in smaller or women's sizes, there are now lots of
no show socks designed in larger or men's sizes too.
But some people just can't stand the feeling of socks
on their feet, and since it's not sandal weather year
round in most places, you need to learn how to

(02:39):
keep those paws healthy inside close toad shoes. The debate
over weather socks go with sandals is for another episode
or possibly another podcast entirely, so first, a word about
shoe powders. Chisholm isn't a fan. He says that a
light dusting of talcum powder directly on the foot will
keep things dry for a file, but says to never

(03:01):
pour powder into the shoe itself. It just piles up
and soaks in sweat, trapping it in the shoe. If
you're prone to athletes foot, try an anti fungal powder. Next.
Keep your sockless shoes on a rotation. She says to
give each pair twenty four to forty eight hours to
air and dry out between sockless sessions. The longer the
rest the better. There are also sterilizing options, from simple

(03:26):
disinfecting sprays sold expressly for shoes, not liesol or similar
household disinfectants because those are not designed to make contact
with skin, to the much fancier and more expensive ultra
violet sterilizing devices that are now on the market. Today's

(03:47):
episode is based on the article is going Sockless Bad
for your feet? On how stuffworks dot Com written by
Dave Rouse. Brain Stuff is production of by Heart Radio
in partnership with how stuff works dot Com, and it
is produced by Tyler Klang. Four more podcasts my heart Radio,
visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
you listen to your favorite shows. H