It is one of the unfortunate side effects of the teen years that increased hormone production, sweating and activity can cause chronically smelly feet. It’s pretty embarrassing for most teens, but it will pass.

In the meantime, a teen’s socks need attention.

 Buy them more pairs. In order to combat smelly feet, a teen will need to change their socks a lot. In fact, three or four times a day is about what it will take to keep foot odor at bay. It will also prevent the odor from wicking (or drawing) away from the skin but seeping into the insole of the shoe. See if they can be persuaded to take a few extra pairs to school. Having smelly feet at school is humiliating, and if they really can’t stand the thought of having dirty socks in their bag all day, let them throw them out. Some things are just not worth arguing over!
 Make sure the socks they do have are of a high quality. Some socks (like Technical socks designed for athletes) are incredibly efficient at not just wicking moisture away from the foot, but also at making sure it doesn’t soak into the insole. Investing in a pair of these will mean teens socks are more likely to make it through the teen years unscathed (along with your embarrassed teen).
 Teens socks are simply not going to last forever. One of the best things you can do for yourself is accept the fact that a high sock budget, along with a vastly increased food bill and a house that is at the mercy of hormonal mood swings, is one of the prices you pay for raising a healthy adult.

Teens Socks is a post from: Socks.ie

In either case, as anyone ‘lucky’ enough to wash socks knows, there is a very real danger of the daily grind turning a fresh sock into a wet horror of bacteria that is reminiscent of sweaty teenage locker rooms.

Choosing men socks is much the same as choosing socks for women. They need to fit comfortably, work well with the outfit in mind, and be long lasting. In the case of men socks though, there is the extra factor of foot odor. We’re not trying to pick on men here, it’s just the mystery of smelly feet can often be traced to the boys.

The causes of smelly feet are varied, but when no particular foot ailment (like athlete’s foot) is present, a lot of it can be explained by testosterone. Testosterone, the masculine chemical, is present in both men and women, but is obviously more predominant in men – and in men socks.

Because of that, choosing men socks needs to factor in the extra amount of sweat and hormonal secretions that leads to bacteria buildup, and the poor guy being banished to the spare room. Try to buy socks that have a high level of natural fibers. Although a little polyester and spandex will help the sock to fit comfortably, plenty of cotton or wool will provide breathability, allowing the air to circulate freely and prevent odor buildup. Although cotton and wool will keep the foot aired, it will not keep it dry. Natural fibers do not have a strong ‘wicking’ (meaning that moisture is drawn away from the foot. This means that socks need t be changed regularly and the foot kept extra-clean (and well-dried after showering, a commonly overlooked area of foot care).

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A diabetic circulatory system needs more careful monitoring than others. Because there tends to be a higher level of blood sugar, a diabetic is at risk of ulcers of the foot. This nasty and painful condition involves the development of open, acidic sores on the skin of the foot. It is difficult to treat, and the best method of treatment is often prevention.

This means keeping the foot as dry and clean as possible, keeping it free of friction and unnecessary pressure, and allowing the blood to circulate as freely as possible, to keep sugars, nutrients and oxygen moving throughout the body.

All of these things should weigh heavily in the decisions made when choosing a diabetic sock. For instance, heavily elasticated socks are a no-no, particularly those that end halfway up the calf. Elastic constricts blood flow and as the calf is the widest point of the leg, any socks that end here are stretched (and trying to contract) at maximum rates. This is not only uncomfortable, it is also dangerous for a diabetic, so choose socks with a minimum of elastic.

Also, avoid socks that have toe seams. When compressed in a shoe, a toe seam will produce pressure and friction. Even a small amount of this can irritate the skin into multiple tiny tears, allowing moisture and bacteria to enter the skin, quickly leading to sores and ulcers.

Finally, try to choose socks that are well-shaped for the individual’s foot. This will allow maximum space and comfort (tube socks are definitely out, as no-one’s foot is actually shaped like a tube!).

Diabetic Socks is a post from: Socks.ie

These two enterprising ski instructors from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, came up with the perfect sock for snow-sport enthusiasts and generally outdoorsy folk in 1994. Spun from Merino wool, the light, breathable, Smartwool socks became so popular with hikers and skiers that Colorado (the clothing and equipment company, not the State) bought out Smartwool in 2005.

Merino wool is a little like a natural wool-Lycra blend. This is the Rolls Royce of natural fibers and wearing a pair of Smartwool socks feels like wearing a second skin – a skin that is a better version of your on.

The secret of Merino wool is it’s fine fiber. Sheep wool is measured in microns, and Merino wool is usually less than 24 microns in diameter, with the superfine variety getting as low as 13 microns. This means that instead of pricking against the skin, the wool bends with it, cushioning the foot, reducing friction (the number one foot ailment among outdoor sportspeople) and wicking moisture away from the skin. Merino wool is also naturally stretchy, and as soft to the touch as cashmere without the finicky maintenance issues (Merino can be washed in the machine on a gentle setting).

The piece de resistance in the Smartwool sock is the crimped look of the fibers. This can only be seen under a microscope, but individual strands definitely look like they are corrugated. This creates hundreds of thousands of tiny air pockets, effectively providing insulation that heat the skin of your foot when it is cold and cooling it when the weather turns hot.

Every seen a flustered looking Merino sheep? Probably not – they’re wearing Smartwool socks after all.

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Every parent dresses their toddler in outfits that include matching socks. A red and white dress, a red and white hat, white shoes and red socks is an outfit that has been worn by every little girl at some point. No toddler sailor outfit is completed with white and navy blue socks to peak out from above the polished black shoes.

This habit does not die as the toddler grows into a teenager. Rather than throwing off the embarrassingly coordinated socks as soon as they get the chance, teenagers embrace this style, incorporating crazy socks into their already crazy outfits. Today it is not only acceptable, but considered stylish, to wear brightly coloured socks that not only do not match the outfit, but do not match each other either.

Coloured socks are not always used so disastorusly, however. Every girl has her favorite pair of socks. Whether it is a favorite pattern or a hilariously lazy cat sleeping on the toe, it is because of the colour of the sock that it is her favorite.

Every style of sock comes in all colours. Thick socks used solely for hiking come in every colour from neon orange to magenta. There is no practical value to a sea-blue hiking sock as opposed to a navy-blue hiking sock. The different colours are sold because people will spend more money on buying the exact same product four times so they can be sure to match a part of their outfit that will never be seen with the entire ensemble.

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These socks are open on the top of the foot, enclosing only the toes and the back of the heel, much like an abridged moccasin. They come in many different styles. In the normal style all toes are connected in the same part of the sock. In the “split toe” style the big toe is separated from the other toes, much as the name implies. The “split toe” style allows the wearer more movement in his feet. This added movement is especially useful for surfers.

These socks are made of an elastic, nylon and rubber mixture. This blend allows them to be incredibly stretchy and survive well in water for an extended period of time. They are designed specifically to fit within the Nike Rift Shoe. This shoe is similarly designed for water sportage use. The socks can be worn without the shoes, however, such as in the case of surfers. The socks help protect the wearer’s feet from sharp rocks and other dangerous things within the water. They also help reduce the amount of water that reaches the skin of the wearer. This is useful since it is better for the skin after an extended period of time. There is less water damage in the long term and less “pruning” in the short term.

Rift socks come in all colors and sizes, allowing the wearer to choose a color to match their wetsuit or sporting equipment. Once again, the wearer can elect to wear them with the matching Rift Shoe or to just wear the socks on their own. Whichever decision is made, the foot is better protected than it would be without either.

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Shoes that are not closed toed do not require socks. Wearing socks and sandals is often viewed on not only as unnecessary, but as awkward looking and quirky. Rather than being an inevitable part of daily life, socks can often be a rare occurrence associated only with an intense workout or a job interview. The further south you go the less necessary dress shoes on formal occasions become. Rather than being necessary for work every day, they become required for the day corporate visits.

Being barefoot, a style pioneered by non-Western cultures and adopted by hippies and children everywhere, has also been regaining ground lately. The development of the “foot gloves” reflects the collective desire of people to be able to walk around without shoes. These “foot gloves” are what the name implies: a plastic material that fits your foot like a glove. Though these “foot gloves” are thought to make your feet look like those of a swamp monster, they have been gaining popularity. Developed for people who did extensive swimming or went to the beach often, they have been adopted by every hippie at heart who has been kicked out of a restaurant or institution of learning for not wearing shoes.

Requiring no socks these “foot gloves” reflect the popular desire to be able to function without having to worry about socks and shoes on a daily basis.

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Pop socks are basically a sock made of pantyhose nylon and they normally come in two styles: the anklet, which protect the shoe and the foot from making new and interesting blends of smelly bacteria, and the knee-high version, which usually go under trousers when the footwear does not allow for dress socks.

It is the perfect way for a delicate high heel to be worn well with trouser suits, but a pop sock is definitely not the kind of thing that a woman would really want to be seen in. The pop sock is the woman’s equivalent of a man’s dress sock. Perfect when peeping discreetly from under a trouser cuff, but hilarious when seen on an otherwise bare set of legs.

The tip here for a woman is the same as for a man. When in intimate situations, make sure the sock is removed first – or forever risk being seen in the same light as your grandparents. This goes double for the woman who mistakenly thinks that her skirt is long enough to cover the thick elasticated top of the knee-high pop sock. A nun’s habit is not long enough to cover this – the wind seems to know when a woman is wearing a pop sock with skirt and will always find a way to lift the hem just enough to doom the poor girl to reveal her secret fondness for ‘Nana socks.’

The pop sock is best worn in discreet colors. In fact, it is impossible to find a pop sock in any color but black, tan, and occasionally white. The pop sock is built to be the indispensable but shadowy partner in the well-dressed businesswoman’s ensemble. We all know they are there, we all know they are wonderful, and we all know they should never be revealed or spoken of. Pop socks, you’ve been warned.

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