Going Barefoot; Healthy or Harmful?

benefits and downsides of walking barefoot

When it comes to our feet, generally we tuck them away in socks and shoes and don’t think twice until the end of the day. But sometimes, it feels nice to be without shoes. To feel the sand or grass between your toes; some people even like to free themselves of shoes in the workplace. Whatever the cause may be, how does going without shoes for an extended period affect your health? Here are the benefits and downsides of walking barefoot.

Walking barefoot is also known as “earthing” and includes walking barefoot on any natural surface but some people include concrete and paved surfaces on their barefoot routines. Proponents of this trend believe that walking around without shoes or socks can lead to many benefits such as:

  • An increase in antioxidants
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improvement in sleep
  • Decrease in blood viscosity
  • Boosted immunity
  • Alleviates the formation of calluses, hammertoes, or bunions

The theory behind these benefits is that the earth is negatively charged, so when you walk barefoot you are connecting your body to a negative supply of energy and absorbing electrons from it. These free electrons aid in detoxifying your body. Also, earthing is said to shift your sympathetic nervous system back to a point of tranquility and calm.

 Downsides of Walking Barefoot

Although the benefits of walking barefoot are numerous, there may be a few downsides to this liberating trend:

  • You may be accustomed to the support from shoes, leaving you more susceptible to injury
  • You could step on something sharp or harmful
  • Certain surfaces can scrape your feet, increasing your risk of infection
  • If you frequently walk through moist and wet areas, you may encourage the growth of fungi and bacteria
  • Skin cancer on the feet is a rare occurrence but is a possibility

If you like the idea of ditching your shoes, make sure you are paying extra attention when it comes to your foot care regimen. Wash your feet frequently and apply sunscreen to the tops and bottoms of your feet. Don’t go barefoot in areas that could prove to be dangerous like around a campfire or murky rivers or lakes. If you develop any sort of foot condition or infection see your doctor immediately and continue on with proper foot care involving shoes and socks.

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS

Dr. Jason Gold, DPM, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. He has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot and ankle conditions like bunions, fat pad atrophy, and sports medicine. Dr. Jason holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. He's one of only 10 board-certified Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgeons in Palm Beach County. Dr. Gold has been featured in highly authoritative publications like HuffPost, PureWow, and Yahoo!

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus , DPM - Podiatrist in Boca Raton, FL

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus DPM, RPhs, FACFAS

Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, DPM, RPhs, FACFAS, is a podiatrist at the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center in Boca Raton, FL, and Boynton Beach, FL. She has over 20 years of experience and specializes in foot, ankle, and leg vein conditions like spider and varicose veins and sclerotherapy. Dr. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, and she earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Schoenhaus has performed FDA-approved research and has been published in the National Library of Medicine and PubMed. Dr. Jodi has been featured in highly authoritative publications like Cosmopolitan, Lifehacker, Parade, New York Post, and Yahoo!, among others.