No, Feet Are Not Washed in the Shower
We all know that it is very important to wash your underarms and lower areas while bathing – there is no doubt about that. We’re well aware of the importance of hand washing , and if you’ve ever been a fat hormonal teenager, you know why your face and hair need to be washed regularly. But on the Internet, there are bouts of resentment about washing a certain part of the body that is often forgotten: our feet.
When former news anchor Katie Olmsted asked her Twitter followers if they were washing their feet, the responses were quick and loud .
“Wow, lol, you are some dirty girlfriends,” one of them said. “You sit on the edge of the tub and scrub these bastards hard with a brush and soap. No excuse, said another. “Your feet are closest to a dirty ass. Especially during the warmer months. Wash them, ”the third suggested.
But some argue that all the foam ends up at our feet, cleaning it up, so why wash it? Plus, soapy feet are slippery feet and are more likely to knock us off our feet. So what’s so special about washing them?
Foot wash cover
On its website, the Institute for Preventive Foot Health highlights the importance of thorough daily washing of our feet with mild soap (including between the toes), pointing out what is easy to take for granted: our feet are “the foundation of our mobility.”
Correct washing is an integral part of combating unpleasant odors. According to infectious disease specialist Amesh A. Adal, MD, “your feet, like the rest of your skin, are covered with bacteria .” These bacteria, when mixed with sweat, cause unpleasant foot odor. (It’s worth noting that we have 250,000 sweat glands on our feet , so … yeah. That’s a big potential stench.)
This is followed by exfoliation. (Yes, those sometimes hairy, often knotted pads need exfoliation too – that is, if we don’t want calluses on them.) Regularly exfoliating dead skin helps prevent rough spots from rubbing against our shoes.
Intentionally cleaning the top, sides, and bottom of the feet can also help prevent infections such as staphylococcus aureus (which can enter through a small cut), plantar warts, and athlete’s feet. Are you sure to get these ailments if you don’t wash them? No. But, according to podiatry specialist Dr. Robert K. Lee, “The more often you wash your feet, the less likely your skin will be infected with viruses, fungi and bacteria.”
Drying them is equally important.
Since plantar warts and athlete’s feet develop best in warm and humid environments, it is also important to remove moisture after washing the pedals. Dry them thoroughly (again, not forgetting between your toes) to prevent fungus growth.
Bottom line
Is it possible to live on this Earth for decades, not wash your dogs every time you shower and be in perfect order? Yes. But knowing all the benefits, is it worth it? Also yes.