Toe socks become fashion must-have, but are they good for your health?
Toe socks / Korea Times photo by Kim Jung-hyun
For the longest time, toe socks were regarded unfashionable, but this summer, they have become a trend among younger people, with celebrities such as Park Jin-young and Ryu Hye-young appearing on television wearing them.
The socks have been praised not only for being a style trend but also for their purported health benefits. The Hankook Ilbo asked dermatologists whether toe socks are indeed beneficial for foot health — while fashion has no right or wrong answer, medical science usually does.
One of the most widely cited health benefits of toe socks is their potential to prevent athlete’s foot. Known scientifically as tinea pedis, athlete’s foot is a fungal infection affecting the skin between the toes or on the soles of the feet. It occurs when the skin barrier that protects against infection is weakened, allowing the fungi to thrive in a warm, humid environment.
The spaces between the toes, which remain in close contact more than most other parts of the body, provide an ideal environment for fungi to grow. In theory, toe socks physically separate the toes and reduce moisture buildup, meaning they could be more effective than ordinary socks in preventing athlete’s foot.
Dermatologists, however, said they do not recommend toe socks to patients with athlete’s foot. The infection can be caused by a wide range of factors, and the type of socks a person wears has no clear causal relationship.
A more common cause is failing to thoroughly dry between the toes after showering. A weakened immune system due to diabetes or other illnesses is another risk factor. People who sweat heavily or spend long hours working in shoes are also prone to athlete’s foot, even if they wear toe socks.
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The fungal infection is more likely to occur during summer, when the weather is hot and humid. Many tend not to take the condition seriously because it is common and medication is available over the counter. For many young people, the infection causes little more than itching, pain or soreness for a few days.
But athlete’s foot can be dangerous for older adults and people with underlying illnesses whose immune systems are already weakened. Bacteria can enter the body through skin damaged by the infection and spread throughout the body. If this develops into sepsis and damages major organs, it can even be fatal.
“The most important steps in managing athlete’s foot are thoroughly washing between the toes, drying them completely and avoiding damp environments,” Lee Ji-hyun, a dermatologist at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea, said. “It is also advisable to change socks when they become damp with sweat, avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day and allow shoes to dry completely between uses.”
“Wearing sandals or well-ventilated shoes during summer can help,” added Min Joon-hong, a professor of dermatology at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. “The standard treatments for athlete’s foot are topical antifungal ointments and oral antifungal medication. However, the condition often worsens when people try to treat it themselves, so anyone who develops symptoms should see a doctor.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.