What happens when you go barefoot constantly? Can you contract some type of illness doing this?

Question

I know some people that do this and I think it's gross.

Answer 1

No, not wrong at all! In spite of persistent myths, there is nothing wrong with going barefoot in public. It's not gross, dangerous or unhealthy.

Feet get very tough very quickly so injury is unlikely; I never divert my step no matter how much glass I see and I get a tiny splinter maybe once a year, never had a cut, never had even the slightest splinter indoors. Just in the rare case it does happen, tetanus has had a vaccine available since the 1920's, which everyone should keep up to date since there are other ways of catching it apart from stepping on a rusty nail barefoot.

Disease is unlikely since our skin is made to keep pathogens out; unless you put your feet up on the table or lick your toes, the more visible dirt on our feet is far less risky than the less visible but no less germy stuff we pick up with our hands from door knobs, railings, handle bars, etc. Even if we wash our hands after using the restroom and before dinner, there's still more chance to transfer those germs to our food and/or face where they can enter our body; on our feet, the dirt just sits there until we wash it off.

There's no foot odor unless you just took off closed shoes; 'foot odor' should really be called 'shoe odor' since it is caused not by the sweat itself but by bacteria breaking down the sweat in anaerobe circumstances (with lack of oxygen) as happens inside closed shoes. On the bare foot, no matter how much you sweat on a hot day, the sweat dries up without producing the odor.

Athlete's foot is a fungus, you can pick up the spores from going barefoot in a place where many others go barefoot, but they can only grow if you put your feet in closed shoes afterwards -especially if you then start playing sports so you sweat more and get hot. A fungus loves a warm, dark and slightly damp place to thrive; on the outside of the bare skin, it just dries up. Even the place where you pick it up should be a little damp and warm, like a locker room floor or even a shower or pool; on a sidewalk or the floor of a store or mall, the spores won't live long so the chance of picking it up from another barefooter is very small there. Athlete's foot is ringworm of the foot; ringworm isn't a true worm.

The *hookworm* is the one non-tropical worm that can enter through the skin but it's pretty much gone from the South since modern plumbing replaced the outhouses, never was a problem in cooler climates.

And in spite of persistent myths in the US, there are NO health laws against bare feet, insurance companies don't require or even recommend footwear for customers, and there are NO laws against driving barefoot. Individual stores may have a dress code but there are many stores even in the US that don't care; in other countries it's rarely an issue at all. Here in the Netherlands I've never even seen a 'no shoes, no shirts, no service' sign, nor on my trips to Belgium & Scotland.

Ethically speaking, too many people confuse anything outside the social norm with a lack of respect. That's unfortunate; differences in appearance and dress make life more interesting. Imagine we'd all be wearing the same thing, that'd be terribly boring! And bare feet in particular can also be a sign of *respect*; it's a gentle, quiet, natural way of walking, doesn't make noise like clicking heels, slapping flipflops or stomping boots, does less harm to plants when walking outdoors... As shown above the concerns of injury, disease, smell etc are based on myths and exaggerated fears rather than fact, and I find the gentle barefoot step far more respectful than the careless, unfeeling step of a thick-soled boot.

Answer 2

It's pure comfort if you ask me. I love going barefoot as does my mother - of course my boyfriend and my dad can't understand this. The only problem I have ever suffered going barefoot is probably at least 20 years ago, I had a bunch of plantar warts on my feet. Now granted, my boyfriend has the same issue and he NEVER goes barefoot. My bad foot problems (bunions) are a result of wearing heels. Which do you think is worse to live with? I will eventually need to have surgery on my feet because of the bunions and this will likely keep me out of commission (i.e. work) for about 6 weeks.

Answer 3

Accept for stepping on something like the others have mentioned, there is no harm in going barefoot. I have went barefoot all my life except for going to school, work ect. I have had more foot problems from wearing shoes verus not wearing them. I kick my shoes off first thing when I come home at night. I have never had any ringworm or foot fungus and I think that is because my feet remain dry from not wearing shoes all the time.

Answer 4

I must admit that ringworm can penitrate the skin but it dosent exist in cooler northern climates. The ringworm is contracted by stepping on the larva which is found in infected human feces and since the implimentation of sanitary sewers in most of the world, it has pretty much been eradicated. so basically its a non-issue.

In general, being barefoot promotes healthy development of musculature in the feet and legs, while excessive reliance on shoes tends to promote atrophy and weakness in those same muscles. This suggests that overdependency on shoes can have serious consequences. A study published in the September 2006 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism found that “modern shoes may exacerbate the abnormal mechanics of lower-extremity osteoarthritis.” Researchers concluded that maybe it was time to re-evaluate our daily walking programs,
presumably to include time for walking barefoot.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/546308

Walking barefoot is also a good way to avoid athlete’s foot. Contrary to a widely believed myth, it is not the sole-to-ground contact that presents a risk so much as it is feet going back into the moist, dark, warm environment found inside shoes. Closed-toe shoes especially are ideal incubators for fungi and bacteria to live and breed. Allowing the feet to “breathe” also prevents foot odor.

Dr. Lynn Staheli, who directed the orthopedics division at the Children's Hospital in Seattle for 15 years, documented that children raised in parts of the world where shoes are rarely worn had better flexibility, mobility, and strength, which resulted in fewer foot-related problems and injuries. In the 1960 classic “Take Off Your Shoes and Walk,” chiropodist Simon Wikler notes that children who go barefoot regularly develop stronger, healthier, and more functional feet than children who are generally shod. (He notes that a “constantly shoe-wearing tenderfoot” is rarely able to comprehend the innate capability of the human foot.) The following site covers such topics as when and when not to let children go barefoot, what doctors think, and parental testimonials. It also features excerpts from “Take Off Your Shoes and Walk.”
http: www.unshod.org/pfbc/index.html

Bottom line - What happens when you go barefoot all the time is you get stronger healthier feet. The site below contains over 1100 members who love to be barefoot and all experience the same result; Healthy Feet.

Answer 5

Going barefoot gives natural healing & stimulation especially
on rough surfaces.During the first attempt,some sharp pain
under the soles of the feet may be felt.This indicates a state
of dormancy and lack of current flow.After a couple of exercises,the pains will stop thereby healing the sole and
enabling free flow of current throughout the body.

Answer 6

i am a barefoot advocate.
it leads to healthy feet and healthy foot function. the only problem is possible injury since class and metal and other things can be on the ground. when you go barefoot you get the bottoms of your feet hardened up and it's easier to walk on gravel etc.

Answer 7

my whole life i have walked barefooted in all,possible conditions . i am now 72 so there is nothing better than do it. it is also a sort of foot reflex massage

Answer 8

They should have their reporting privileges removed, and be penalized with removal of points for each unjust report for the entire month prior to deletion.

Answer 9

Foot fungus like athlete's feet. Especially in gymnasium locker rooms.

Answer 10

besides the obvious risk of stepping on something, eventually you will develop heel spurs or other maladies