Socks come in various colours and sizes. While they look trendy, they also provide comfort to your feet. If we talk about toddlers, it is the most necessary clothing item for every baby. They provide cushions to their tiny feet while maintaining their body temperature.
Similarly, socks are of great use for adults too. But the most commonly asked question about socks is whether you can wear them all the time or if wearing socks all day long could impact your health negatively?
The answer may vary depending on various points, but in a nutshell, socks do not cause any health miseries. Read on to find out more about the topic and what medical science has to say about it.
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Is wearing socks all the time good or bad?
People think that wearing socks all day long can cause smelly feet, increasing the risk of fungus or germs. This is not completely true. The argument of fungus infection and germs are true, but you have to understand that wearing dirty socks only can expose your feet to such health problems.
If you keep changing your socks daily and taking proper measures to maintain hygiene, wearing socks is beneficial in many ways. We will talk about the benefits of wearing socks later in this article.
Breaking the myth
One of the major worries, when we talk about wearing socks is that it increases an athlete’s foot risk. It is a type of fungal infection that usually occurs in between your toes. A common reason for this infection is sweaty feet or wearing tight shoes. It is closely related to other types of fungal infections, such as ringworm.
Fungus called dermatophytes are responsible for an athlete’s foot. It is a contagious fungus, and it grows in warm moist environments.
People mostly mislead athlete’s feet, and they think wearing socks could be the reason for this. But in reality, it is the opposite.
The fungus dermatophytes can grow anywhere, in your swimming pool, floor, or even in the wet towel you use. A moist warm environment is favourable for these fungi.
The best way to avoid these infections is to change your socks every day. By doing so, you are removing any such bacteria from your feet.
Wash your socks in warm water before using them the next day. Washing socks in warm water effectively kills microorganisms that may get fertilized due to sweat.
As long as you wash your socks regularly, there is nothing to worry about smelly feet or fungus infection.
Benefits of wearing socks all day long
Wearing socks has no harm to your health. However, you should be ensuring that your socks are not dirty. Using a well-washed pair of socks gives a comfortable feel and is very beneficial for your overall health.
Wearing premium quality socks having good cotton fabric helps reduce moisture on your feet. It provides proper cushioning and reduces friction between your feet and shoes. Sleeping with socks on help maintain your body temperature and results in better sleep quality.
From making your feet less vulnerable to fungus infection to give you a night of better sleep, wearing socks has many health benefits.
Sleeping with socks on good or bad?
Wearing socks in bed might seem to be overheating, but it is indeed a good idea for much quicker sleep. Socks help maintain your body temperature.
Our body follows the circadian rhythm. It is our body’s natural clock cycle. Through this cycle, our body decides when to sleep and when to wake up. Following this clock cycle, our body’s temperature drops during the night; this signals our brain that it is the time for sleep.
This whole process can be accelerated when we sleep with socks on. Let me explain what happens when you sleep wearing socks.
Socks work as a layer, and it warms up your feet. This increase in temperature makes the blood vessels dilate (expands). It is a way for our body to release excess body heat through our skin. This process helps to lower core body temperature and sends our brain a signal that it is bedtime. The study shows a strong relationship between skin temperature and sleep.
Wearing socks during the night is a much safer way to get a good night’s sleep rather than using other heating equipment like a heating pad, hot water bottles, or room heater. Make sure to use cotton fabric socks, giving plenty of space for your feet to breathe.
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Are there any cons of wearing socks to bed?
Although wearing socks is comfy and associated with better quality sleep, there are some cons too. According to some research, sleeping with socks on can interfere with your sleep cycle. It can affect your heart rate and blood pressure. Wearing tight socks may also cause rashes or infection. Other drawbacks of wearing socks during the night are:
High blood pressure
Wearing socks at night is linked to increased blood pressure. It decreases your core body temperatures causing veins to narrow down. Thus it increases blood pressure.
Hygiene problems
Wearing too-tight socks can cause hygiene issues. It could lead to rashes and infection. It also makes your skin unbreathable, thus no room for sweat to evaporate. This results in sweat sticking to your skin, making it a favourable ground for germs and bacteria.
Skin infection
Wearing the same socks all day long, even while sleeping, can cause them to be soaked in sweat. It can develop germs and bacteria, resulting in infections such as athlete’s foot or ringworm. Make sure you always wear a fresh pair of socks before going to bed. It can help avoid any such risk of infection.
How often should you change your socks?
It depends on you and your lifestyle. Socks worn for too long absorb sweat from your feet. Moisture can expose your feet to bacterias and fungus, which increases the risk of ringworm and athlete’s foot.
If your feet are sweaty, it is best if you can change your socks at least twice a day. This way, you will be able to keep your feet dry and at the same time reduce the load of bacterias that might be accumulated on your socks.
It would be best always to use cotton socks or other thermal socks designed especially for soaking more sweat and keeping your feet dry.
Conclusion
Socks are completely safe to wear all day long. But keep in mind that wearing unwashed socks is to be avoided as sweat can cause germs to grow. As long as you are maintaining hygiene, it is safe to wear socks all the time without any worry.
