Now, it’s really important for everyone to take proper care of their feet. But for the average person, that usually means wearing comfortable shoes and not being on your feet all day. While sure, this is technically a part of proper foot care, it’s not the only aspect. In fact, it seems like for the average person, proper foot care isn’t a major priority either. We take care of our teeth, wash our faces, and keep our hands clean, but when was the last time you really gave your feet some TLC?

Well, the truth is, your feet need just as much attention—if not more. Yes, you read that right! Basically, if you’re ignoring them, it can lead to all sorts of nasty problems that are way worse than a little foot odor. But what can you expect exactly?

What Can Happen If You Neglect Regular Foot Hygiene?

Well, for starters, taking care of your feet is about more than just aesthetics or avoiding bad smells. It’s about preventing infections, minimizing pain, and keeping yourself healthy. So, you’re going to have to do your feet a favor—clean them, dry them, and treat them with the care they deserve. But let’s go ahead and look into some issues you can expect if you neglect proper care.

The Infamous Ingrown Toenail

Ah, the ingrown toenail—one of the most painful, irritating things your foot can throw at you. It usually starts small, with the edge of your toenail digging into the skin, but soon enough, it can escalate into full-blown redness, swelling, and the kind of pain that makes you wince every time you walk. But what’s the worst part? 

Well, if left untreated, that innocent ingrown toenail can turn into a full-on infection. Yes, that’s right, and we’re talking about warm, throbbing toes and maybe even some pus. Once that happens, you’ll wish you had just trimmed your nails properly in the first place.

Athlete’s Foot

Believe it or not, you don’t need to be an athlete to catch an athlete’s foot. This fungal infection loves warm, damp places, which makes your sweaty feet the perfect home. If you’ve ever experienced the itch, burn, and peeling skin between your toes, you know athlete’s foot isn’t just a minor annoyance—it’s maddening. 

But can it get worse? Oh yes, absolutely it can! So, if you don’t treat it, the athlete’s foot can spread. It can work its way into your toenails, which makes the infection even harder to get rid of. And nobody wants to deal with gross, discolored nails on top of itchy feet.

But why does it happen? Well, athlete’s foot thrives in moist environments—locker rooms, public showers, or even your sweaty socks and shoes. If you’re not washing and drying your feet properly, you’re practically inviting fungus to the party.

Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is like an athlete's foot, but it’s a lot worse. Actually, it's so bad that there’s even a TV show on TLC about people's fungus issues. So, with that all said, once this fungus gets under your toenails, it can cause thick, discolored nails that are not just embarrassing but can also be a pain to treat (and yes, there is a smell). So, the nail might become crumbly, yellow, and brittle, making it difficult to trim and manage.

But here’s the thing: toenail fungal infections take forever to clear up. Even with the best treatment, you’re looking at months of consistent care. And in severe cases, you might even lose the nail entirely. But why does this even happen? How can you prevent it?

Well, poor foot hygiene, wearing dirty socks, and not trimming your nails regularly can all contribute to fungal infections. It’s similar to athlete's foot, and yes, the fungus loves dark, damp environments, and if you’re not careful, your feet provide the perfect conditions.

Bacterial Infections

As if fungal infections weren’t bad enough, neglecting your feet can also lead to bacterial infections. These can pop up if you’ve got any open wounds, like cuts, blisters, or even untreated fungal infections that have worsened. If bacteria get in, you’re looking at painful swelling, redness, and possibly even fever. 

It gets worse: if a bacterial infection spreads, you could be dealing with cellulitis or even bone infections in severe cases. These aren’t just "rest your feet for a few days" issues—they might need antibiotics or even surgery to fix. So yeah, this is such a serious deal by far!

Warts, Calluses, and Corns

So, something else you really shouldn’t forget about would be warts, calluses, and corns. While sure, they may not be as scary as infections, they can still be a major pain (literally speaking, of course). Warts are caused by HPV, and these are small, rough growths that can appear on the bottom of your feet. 

So, as you might expect, walking on them can be super uncomfortable—like stepping on a pebble every time you take a step. These usually happen in locker rooms and communal showers (hence why it’s encouraging for college students to wear flip-flops in shower forms).

But calluses and corns, on the other hand, develop from constant friction or pressure, usually thanks to ill-fitting shoes. They might seem harmless at first, but once they thicken and harden, they can make walking a real chore. So, these usually happen due to repeat friction and wearing shoes that just don’t fit properly either.

How to Focus on Proper Foot Hygiene

We often underestimate how important foot hygiene is—until something goes wrong, right? Usually after one of the above issues happens, that’s when hygiene begins to be taken seriously (not for everyone of course). But overall, keeping your feet clean and healthy doesn’t just prevent discomfort, it can also stop more serious conditions from creeping in.So, what exactly does proper foot hygiene look like?

Wash Your Feet Daily

Okay, sure, now this might sound obvious, but it’s amazing how easy it is to forget. So, just think about it; your feet spend all day in shoes, absorbing sweat and coming into contact with dirt, bacteria, and who knows what else. So giving them a good wash every day helps remove grime, prevent infections, and keep odors at bay.

Essentially, when washing your feet, don’t just rely on the water running down in the shower. You’ll need to take the time to use soap and get in between your toes. And just like what was mentioned above, that also means that you need to dry your feet thoroughly afterward, paying close attention to the spaces between your toes. Just generally speaking, fungus thrives in warm, damp places, so keeping your feet dry is essential for avoiding things like athlete’s foot.

Trim Your Toenails Regularly

One of the most crucial (yet obvious) aspects of foot hygiene is trimming your toenails regularly. Yes, you read that right, it’s so simple but it still manages to get neglected too. But here’s the thing, it’s not just about trimming them—it’s about trimming them correctly (and this is where people make a lot of mistakes).. So, cutting your toenails too short or rounding the edges can lead to painful ingrown toenails, which can get infected if left untreated.

So, you’re going to have to always trim your toenails straight across to prevent the edges from digging into the skin (and people make this mistake mostly due to aesthetics). But if your toenails are particularly thick or tough, then it might be a good idea to look into investing in heavy duty nail clippers, which can make the job much easier and help you avoid any painful mishaps. Plus, these are great for avoiding in-grown toenails, too.

Moisturize, But Not Between the Toes

Generally speaking, keeping your skin soft and hydrated is just as important for your feet as it is for your face or hands. So, dry, cracked skin can become a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to infections and discomfort. But overall, using a good moisturizer on your feet can help prevent dryness, calluses, and cracks. But you don’t need too much on your feet because, again, it’s about avoiding a breeding ground for bacteria, especially when it comes between your toes, where the main issue is.

Wear Clean, Breathable Socks

So, socks were mentioned so many times, and yes it still deserves to be mentioned again. Overall, your socks play a big role in keeping your feet healthy. Now, dirty, damp socks are like a petri dish for bacteria and fungi, so make sure you’re wearing clean socks every day. If you’re someone who sweats a lot or spends the day on your feet, it’s a good idea to carry an extra pair to change into halfway through the day.

Rotate Your Shoes

Wearing the same pair of shoes every day might seem convenient, but it’s not doing your feet any favors. Sure, everyone has that go-to pair of shoes, but you have to keep in mind that tour shoes need time to air out and dry properly between wears to prevent bacteria and odor from building up. Ideally, you should rotate between a few pairs of shoes and give each pair at least 24 hours to breathe after wearing them.

If you have shoes that are prone to getting smelly, consider using foot powders or sprays to absorb excess moisture and keep things fresh.