Do you sleep with socks?
If you do, you might want to pay attention. No, I’m not necessarily trying to convince you to sleep barefoot, only to consider what could happen if you continue to wear socks to bed every night.
According to a 2023 survey from the Better Sleep Council, nearly a third of U.S. adults sleep with socks on at least a few times a week.
There are many benefits to wearing socks to sleep. Socks can help cool the body’s core temperature, it can help keep cracked heels moisturized, and they can also help decrease the chance of a Raynaud’s attack by keeping your feet warm and blood circulating.
While there are several pros, there are also a handful of cons, including one that’s slightly concerning.
If your socks are too tight, they can cause circulation problems in your legs and feet which could lead you to feeling restless. Wearing socks might also make you feel too hot. Some socks might be too heavy to sleep in and cause you to overheat rather than cool down.
But perhaps the most worrisome reason is the potential for bacteria growth.
While wearing socks to sleep isn’t a major health concern, Carlie Gasia, a certified wellness coach at Sleep Advisor, told House Beautiful things can get complicated when socks become dirty.
“Dirty socks can accumulate bacteria that have the potential to spread in your bed, possibly posing health risks,” she said.
And just because you wore your socks with shoes doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
“Your socks can still accumulate dirt and bacteria. Also, if your feet tend to sweat, your socks may retain bacteria that has transferred from your shoes.”
I don’t know about you, but this is making me think twice about wearing socks to bed.
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