Microbiologist warns that not changing your socks daily could cause respiratory infections

A single pair of used socks can contain between eight and nine million bacteria

Microbiologist Primrose Freestone, from the University of Leicester, warned that not changing your socks every day not only increases foot odor, but could also pose a risk to overall health.

In that sense, he explained that the prolonged use of socks favors the accumulation of millions of bacteria and fungi capable of causing respiratory, intestinal, and skin infections. In an article published in The Conversation and cited by dailymail, the specialist warned that the feet harbor one of the most diverse microbial communities in the human body, especially in the warm and humid spaces between the toes. There, bacteria and fungi thrive, feeding on sweat and dead skin cells, producing waste responsible for the characteristic bad odor. According to research cited by the expert, a single pair of used socks can contain between eight and nine million bacteria, a figure much higher than that found in other garments. In addition, potentially dangerous pathogens such as Aspergillus, Candida and Cryptococcus have been identified, fungi that can cause serious infections in people with weakened immune systems.

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Freestone warned that these microbes not only remain on the feet, but can be transferred to shoes, bedding, floors, and other surfaces in the home, facilitating the spread of infections such as athlete’s foot. Likewise, he explained that some bacteria in the foot microbiome produce compounds with intense odors, comparable to onion, cheese, or goat, when they feed on the sweat trapped in the socks. The specialist recommended changing socks daily, washing them properly, avoiding footwear that causes excessive sweating, and washing feet at least twice a day to reduce the proliferation of microbes and prevent health problems.