Be Savvy about Socks

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At Texas Foot Specialists, we often talk about the importance of wearing proper footwear. If the shoes you wear don’t fit properly, or they cause strain on your feet and ankles by being too narrow, or they have heels that are too high and force the foot forward, you can end up with foot pain and problems. What you wear inside your shoes, however, can also have an impact on the health of your feet. There’s more to socks than just choosing attractive patterns.

Below are some tips on socks that will increase comfort and podiatric health.

  • Choose breathable materials. Your socks are meant to keep your feet warm, but it’s also essential that they allow your skin to breathe and air to circulate. Look for synthetic blends that wick moisture away from your skin.

  • Avoid tight elastic bands. If your socks leave a mark around your lower leg when you take them off, it means they are too restrictive on the top. This impedes circulation to your ankles and feet.

  • Size does matter. Socks that are too loose will slip around on your feet, causing friction which will lead to blisters. Socks that are too tight will not only be uncomfortable, they can also increase the risk of ingrown toenails by forcing toes up against one another.

  • Go for no-seam styles. This is particularly important if you are diabetic or a runner. You don’t want anything that could rub against the front of your toes and cause a blister or sore to form.

  • Sometimes one is not enough. If you are hiking, skiing, or participating in another outdoor activity when the weather is cold and/or damp, you may want to consider two pairs of socks. The one closest to your skin should be thinner and made of a material that takes moisture away from your skin. The outer pair can be thicker to provide warmth.

  • Change when damp. One of the most important sock tips is to switch your socks when you notice they feel moist. Allowing feet to sit in damp or wet socks encourages the growth of fungi that can lead to athlete’s foot and fungal toenails.

If you have questions about what to wear on your feet, you can always ask our podiatrists, Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Gregory Mangum. Contact them at our Sugar Land (281-242-4448), Pasadena (281-991-0600), or Houston (713-664-6677) offices.