Often Forget To Wash Your Feet Before Sleeping? This Is A Stalker Risk

JAKARTA - Feet are body parts that faithfully accompany you in every step, throughout the day. But unfortunately, we tend to pay more attention to our hands and faces, while our feet are often ignored, even though they are no less important.

Many people ignore foot hygiene for various reasons. Some feel washing their feet is not a priority, some feel too tired to do it. Some people even believe wearing socks is enough to protect their feet from dirt and germs.

According to Dr. Govind Singh Bisht, a podiatric consultant from Max Multi Speciality Center, New Delhi, washing his feet ideally performs twice a day, morning and night before bed.

People are diligent in caring for their faces and hands, but their feet are often ignored. Even though the treatment should be the same," said Dr. Govind, quoted from the Indian Today page.

Dr. Rahul N S, a vascular surgery consultant from Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru added that many do not realize that there are fine dust particles in the house that can stick and enter the skin of the feet. The foot closest to the floor is the first place that houses dust, germs, and bacteria.

"Imagine you taking all of that to bed, then touching your own face, nose, and skin," added Dr. Seema Oberoi Lall, dermatologist from CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.

Dr. DM Mahajan, a dermatologist from Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, explains that feet covered in shoes all day long tend to sweat and come into contact with various surfaces. This allows bacteria to accumulate, and washing feet can remove the dirt.

Bringing dirty feet to bed risks causing bacterial and fungal infections.

Because the feet are covered with shoes all day, sweat and germs accumulate. If not washed, the risk increases due to infections such as athlete 's foot," explained Dr. Mahajan.

Athlete 's foot is an infectious fungal infection that often appears between the legs. Symptoms include itching, peeling or peeling skin, inflammation, melting, and burning sensations.

Washing your feet also helps prevent secondary infection, especially for those with broken leg skin or small wounds. According to Dr. Rahul, small cracks in the legs can be the entry point of bacteria into the body.

"Small wounds that seem asymptomatic can be a source of germs in the body's system," he said.

In addition to preventing infection, washing your feet before bed too:

- Eliminating the smell of feet caused by bacteria and sweat.

- Improve sleep quality, especially if done with warm water because it helps relax muscles and joints.

Dr. Govind recommends soaking the feet in warm water as a routine of relaxation before bed.

Leg hygiene is very important for diabetics. According to Dr. Rahul, diabetics have a weaker immune system, so they are more susceptible to infection.

Small infections in the legs can be serious injuries that do not heal. It can even lead to tissue decay or amputation if not treated," he explained.

"If you don't see the face in the mirror, it's okay, but the leg must be checked every day by diabetic patients," he added.

According to experts, washing your feet twice a day is highly recommended, especially for those with certain health conditions. However, for people with a healthy immune system and good leg hygiene in general, washing your feet before bed can be considered a wise choice. This is not an absolute must, but still very useful.

"This is not a must for everyone, but it is a very good habit for cleanliness and prevention of infection," said Dr. Mahajan.

If the reason you don't wash your feet is because you wear socks, experts insist it's not a valid reason.

In fact, wearing socks all day in the shoes actually makes the feet sweat and moist. This is an ideal condition for bacteria and growing fungi. So, washing your feet after taking off your socks is very important to maintain cleanliness.