How did the mankle take over our lives? At what point did a fashion designer or trend-setter look down at a man’s feet and think “Nice loafers, but lose the socks”. However, if you think an assault to the eyes is the only way that the trend of wearing shoes without socks is going to affect your wellbeing, think again. If you’ve got a teenage son who’s rocking the mankle trend, there may be severe (ok, not severe, but still significant) consequences to family wellness; foot odour.
People don’t just wear socks because their feet get cold or they like to adorn their feet with woollen pictures of Donald Duck; socks serve a purpose. Your socks are the unsung heroes who soak up your foot sweat during the day so that fellow passengers on the tube don’t have to get up and move down the carriage to escape your cheesy feet fumes. However, according to online pharmacy Chemist Direct, we have started to retire these heroes and, as a result, there has been an 11% increase in treatments for smelly and sweaty feet.
Men who wear loafers or brogues without socks have been cited as the main culprits behind the a-sock-alypse, and pharmacists have backed this up by reporting that there’s been a surge in male customers asking about how to stop their sockless feet from smelling. When you don’t wear socks, the sweat from your feet seeps directly into the leather of your shoes, making them a breeding ground for bacteria. Bacterial build-up is the reason for the smell, and in summer this gets particularly pungent, as warm weather increases the growth of bacteria.
The experts recommend that you always wear socks, and make sure they’re cotton. Unlike synthetic socks, cotton allows your feet to breathe and remain cool. You should also alternate which shoes you wear on a daily basis. Omar El-Gohary, Superintendent Pharmacist at Chemist Direct, adds, ‘If you have problems consider using a deodorant on feet, such as Odaban roll on or Scholl foot spray, medicated deodorising insoles, or treating the feet with an antibacterial wash such as Hibiscrub for a few minutes twice a day.’