The harmful effects of wearing shoes without socks

Going sockless with shoes is becoming a trend, with everyone from the catwalk to celebrities opting for “bare ankles”. However, experts warn that along with this trend comes a rise in some fungal diseases and infections.

As celebrities like Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling and Orlando Bloom regularly wear sockless shoes at both formal and informal events, so too do patients visiting podiatrist Emma Stevenson, College of Podiatry.

“In general, we are seeing more and more men coming in with ill-fitting footwear, including those who are not wearing socks with their shoes.”

Speaking to the Telegraph, Dr Emma said: “Depending on how sweaty your feet are, it can lead to fungal infections due to excessive moisture in your feet. On average, your feet sweat about half a litre a day, along with many other things that need to be absorbed by socks, not shoes.”

Since this is just a trend, it is not possible to determine the exact impact of not wearing socks when wearing shoes. However, for people with sweaty feet and non-breathable shoes, not wearing socks when wearing shoes will certainly create an ideal environment for fungi to grow. The consequences are not only unpleasant odors but also illness and pain.

“Many shoes are lined with synthetic materials that are not breathable, which can lead to bacterial growth,” Dr. Stevenson adds. “Another problem is the trend toward slip-on shoes, which can lead to ingrown toenails because the toes are forced down to increase the grip of the foot on the shoe.”

According to Dantri