Creatures that live on their socks and shoes can even “chibar” to the police.
Yes, your feet are microbial outbreaks. The area between the toes is full of sweat glands and, when we get the socks and shoes, we hold this moisture in a hot, humid cocoon, ideal for microbial growth.
In fact, your feet can be home to a Thumbnail of Tropical Forest of Bacteria and Fungiwith something 100 and 10 million microbial cells per square centimeter surface of the skin.
The feet not only shelter a huge variety of microorganisms – up to 1000 different species per person – but also have a larger variety of fungal species than any other part of the body. This means that your feet are not just sweaty or smelly – they are genuinely biodiversos.
As the feet are rich in microbes, socks become an ideal place for these same bacteria and fungi. Studies that socks house harmless residents of the skin and coagulase-negative staphylococci and potentially dangerous pathogens, including Aspergillus, Staphylococcus, Candida, histoplasm and cryptococcus. These microbes thrive in the warm and humid spaces between the toes, feeding on sweat and dead skin cells.
Its by -products, such as volatile fatty acids, are what gives the feet, socks and shoes sweaty that notorious odor. It is not the sweat itself that smells bad, but the microbial metabolism of this sweat.
The socks microbiome is not only influenced by your feet, but also reflects your environment. To the socks They collect microbes of all surfaces where it walks, including household floors, gym rugs, resorts, etc. Act as microbial spongescollecting bacteria and fungi of soil, water, humans and pets and pets and dust of everyday life. In one, socks used for only 12 hours had the largest bacteria and fungi counts among all tested garments.
E These microbes are not stopped. Anything that lives on your socks can be transferred to your shoes, floors, bedding and even to your skin. In a hospital, it was found that the non-slip socks used by patients carried ground microbes, including antibiotic resistant pathogens, to hospital beds-a reminder that feet hygiene is not just a personal matter, but may have broader implications for infections and public health control.
Superpropagadores
Socks can also play a fundamental role in the spread of fungal infections such as tinea pedis (better known as athlete’s foot), a highly contagious condition that mainly affects the toes, but can spread to the heels, hands or even groin. Infection is caused by dermatophyte fungi, who love hot and humid environments – exactly the kind of environment that is in sweaty socks and tight shoes.
To avoid it, experts recommend Avoid walking barefoot in shared spaceslike gyms and pools, not share socks, towels or shoes and practice good feet hygiene, which includes washing and drying well between the fingers. Topical antifungal treatments are usually effective, but prevention is critical.
It is also important to note that socks can retain fungal spores even after washing. Therefore, if you have had an athlete’s foot, use the same pair again – even if it seems clean – it can cause a reinfection.
The safest approach is Wear clean socks daily and let the shoes dry completely between the uses. Choose breathable fabrics and avoid shoes that retain heat or cause excessive perspiration.
How to wash the socks correctly
Most clothing washing advice focuses on preserving the fabric, color and shape, but when it comes to socks, hygiene is more important. Studies show that washing at typical domestic temperatures (30–40 ° C) may not be sufficient to kill bacteria and fungi. In fact, poorly washed socks can act as infection vectors, especially in homes with vulnerable people.
To properly sanitize your socks, turn them inside out before washing to expose the inner surface, where most microbes accumulate; Use an enzyme -based detergent that helps decompose sweat and skin residues; Wash at 60 ° C, when possible, as the highest temperature helps remove and kill microbes; Step the socks steam if you need to wash at lower temperatures – iron heat can destroy residual spores.
Cotton socks tend to tolerate better temperatures higher than synthetic mixtures, making them a better option for people prone to fungal infections. Drying the socks to direct sunlight can also help: Ultraviolet light has known antimicrobial effects.
The forensic power of socks microbiomas
Your socks can say more about you than you think. In a US homicide investigation, forensic scientists used soil bacteria found in the socks of a suspect to turn them on to the victim’s burial site.
The microbial profile of the socks corresponded to the crime scene, suggesting that the socks had collected and preserved specific soil microbes.
So the next time you take a sweaty pair at the end of the day, think of the microscopic universe where you walked. And maybe, just perhaps, choose to wash at 60 degrees.
