When it’s a little chilly at night, sleeping with socks can be tempting. But is it good or rather dangerous? Do they cut off blood circulation? Is there a risk of mycosis? Answers from experts.
Cold feet, at night… What could be more unpleasant? However, there is a very simple solution to keep your feet warm: sleep with socks! But caution. While some studies claim that wearing socks at night makes it easier to fall asleep at bedtime and reduces the feeling of heavy legsothers are more reserved and believe that they can cut off blood circulation and increase the risk of foot mycosis. So, is this a good or a bad idea? Update on scientific studies to date and expert opinion.
What are the benefits of sleeping with socks?
According to studies carried out on the subject, there would be mainly two advantages to sleep with socks.
► Better sleep. A studyinitiated by two South Korean researchers in 2018, shows that wearing socks at night would help you sleep better and limit the onset of sleep disorders such as insomnia. “Having warm feet shortens the time to fall asleep and improves the quality of sleep”, in particular underlined the specialists in their conclusions. According to this research, sock wearers (whose body temperature was 1.3 degrees higher) put on, on average, 7 minutes less to fall asleep and enjoyed 32 minutes more sleep than barefoot participants. In a now viral video posted on TikTok, Dr. Jess Andrade (@doctorjesss) explains the reason. “Wearing socks warms the feet and dilates blood vessels which cause the body temperature to drop. Once the body cools down, it tells the brain that it’s time to go to bed. So people who wear socks tend to fall asleep faster.”she explains. This is confirmed by Dr. Thierry Castera, a doctor specializing in sleep disorders, whom we interviewed. “He does‘There is no postulate, but there are tips. To sleep, the‘ideal would be to be naked or to avoid tight clothing. However, when‘it’s cold or when you’re lying down, you may not have enough blood going to your feet. Wearing socks promotes vasodilation and provides warmth. VS‘is enjoyable and beneficial because it tells our brain that‘it’s time to‘go to bed“, he completes.
► Better vasodilation. Wearing socks alleviates the symptoms of certain pathologies, such as those of Raynaud’s disease, a reversible blood flow disorder affecting the extremities. “Reynaud’s disease is an acrosyndrome of the extremities. The blood is not well distributed and the toes of some patients may be downright white. The fact of bringing back heat with socks makes it possible to restore this heat and vasodilation“, explains the professional.
Is there a risk of poor blood circulation?
Wearing socks that are too tight can lead to vasodilation and overheating which “promotes poor venous return and numbness”, confirms a specialist from Living Maples, a site dedicated to the well-being of people with Alzheimer’s disease. . Indeed, falling asleep with your feet covered increases body temperature, which may not be suitable for everyone. “This is particularly valid for those who wear thick socks”he continues.
Is there a risk of foot fungus?
Yes, especially if the socks are made of synthetic material. This is also confirmed by a study by British distributor MasttressNextDay : “the feet have 250,000 sweat glands and when the air circulates badly the feet will tend to remain damp which constitutes a perfect breeding ground for mycoses. If they are not changed to sleep, the fungus will grow faster“. Keeping socks worn during the day or on damp feet promotes the growth of bacteria and their transmission in bedding.
“It is recommended to take a shower 1 to 2 hours before going to bed and to change your socks”
This study found that half of the socks worn all day and night carried Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteria found in the faeces of cockroaches that can cause soft tissue or eye infections. “This type of bacteria can affect the respiratory and urinary tracts of immunocompromised peoples”explains Dr. Deborah Lee, interviewed for the‘occasion. Additionally at night with sweating and heat, there is also an ideal breeding ground for pathogens, such as pseudomonas, staphylococci aureus and E. coli“. “Lack of hygiene promotes fungus between the toes. It is recommended to take a shower 1 to 2 hours before going to bed and changing socks“adds Dr. Thierry Castera.
Sleeping with compression socks: dangerous?
It is also not recommended to sleep with compression stockings. “They are made to help return blood to the upper body. They are therefore tight in order to help the muscles to press on the vessels. If you go to bed with compression stockings, your feet will be even colder. It is therefore not recommended“, says the doctor.
What precautions if you want to sleep with socks?
If you wish to sleep with socks, certain precautions must be observed:
► Put on clean socks (and not his socks worn during the day)
► Wash your socks at a temperature of at least 60°C to eliminate bacteria
► Choose natural fiber socks: in cotton, cashmere or merino wool
► Do not choose socks that are too tight at the level of the elastic so as not to cut off blood circulation.
Thank you to Dr Thierry Castera, doctor specializing in sleep disorders on the SleepDoctor platform