In the shower we might say that some parts of the body probably receive more attention than others. The legs, because they are at the end of the body, are easy to overlook. However, according to some experts, the legs are worth the same, if not more, of our attention.

What do they advise

Both the UK National Health Service (NHS) and the US Disease Control Center (CDC), for example, advise to wash their feet daily with soap and water. One reason for this meticulous care is to prevent odor. The soles of the foot contain 600 sweat glands per square centimeter skin, more than any other area of ​​the body. Although sweat itself does not smell, it contains a nutrient broth of salts, glucose, vitamins and amino acids, which serves as a “buffet” for the bacteria that live there. And there are many bacteria.

“The foot – especially between the toes – is a fairly humid, humid and warm environment, so it can be a suitable ground for germs,” ​​says Holly Wilkinson, a lecturer in wound healing at Hull University in the United Kingdom. This is deteriorated by the fact that most people cover their legs with socks and shoes, trapping moisture in.

The reasons we need to wash the legs

If you zoom in in any square centimeter of human skin, you will find from 10,000 to a million bacteria living there. Warm and wet skin areas, such as legs, host the largest number of such species. For example, legs are “idyllic shelters” for Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus. In terms of fungi, your sweaty legs are considered utopia for genera such as, aspergillus (often on the ground), cryptococcus, epicoccum, rhodotorula, candida (type of yeast that lives in the body but can become opportunistic pathogenic pathogenic), trichosporon. In fact, the human foot contains the greatest biodiversity of fungal species than any other area of ​​the body.

This is probably a good reason to clean the legs. In one study, the researchers took over 40 volunteers. They found that washing the legs had a significant impact on the number of bacteria. People who washed their feet twice a day had about 8,800 bacteria living in each square centimeter. Those who reported that they were washed every other day had over a million bacteria per square centimeter.

However, simply because foot paws are filled with microbial life, that does not necessarily mean that they are stinking or that one has to worry. As always, it is not only the number, but the type of bacteria that is important.

Staphylococcus is the main factor when it comes to the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAS) responsible for the smell of the feet. The sweat glands on the skin of the legs release a mixture of electrolytes, amino acids, urea and lactic acid. Staphylococcus bacteria convert the amino acids into VFAS. The main chemist “culprit” is isobal acid, which has an unpleasant odor that has been described to have a “distinct cheesy/acidic note”. The comparison is apt, as many cheeses contain a similar mixture of volatile chemicals.

In a 2014 study, the researchers sample 16 people and found that 98.6% of the bacteria on the soles were staphylococci. VFAS levels, including isobal acid, basic smell of the foot, were also significantly elevated on the foot of the foot compared to the top of the foot. Overall, the study concluded that the intensity of the legs of the feet was associated with the total number of staphylococci existing – another reason to clean.
However, washing the legs is not just about preventing the bad of the legs. Many diseases and problems in the legs can be prevented through good foot hygiene.

“Due to the small space between the toes, these areas are particularly at risk of microbial infections,” says Joshua Zeichner, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. “This can lead to itching, swelling and bad smell. As the skin barrier is disturbed, this can also increase the risk of invasion of microorganisms into the skin and induce more important soft tissue infections known as cellulite, “he says.

According to Zeichner, the most common problem is the development of the “athlete’s foot”, which is a superficial fungus of the skin on the legs. Fungi that cause the “athlete’s foot” thrive in warm, dark and wet environments – so because this condition more often affects the points between the toes. When this area is preserved clean and dry and deprived of their fungi their perfect home and this is good, as the athlete’s foot can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms such as itching, rash and skin peeling.

Keeping the legs could also prevent skin infections, such as those caused by Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas bacteria. While these bacteria exist naturally on the skin, if they enter the bloodstream due to cuts, then it can lead to severe infection. Even a small staphylococcus infection can lead to pus bumps that form beneath the skin around the hair follicles or olive groves.

“The legs are more prone to infections because there is enough biomass bacteria there, and also if there are ‘tears’ or leg injuries, they tend to heal much slower than other areas of the body,” says Wilkinson.

Although skin infections can also occur in cases where there is good foot hygiene, regular foot washing reduces the number of bacteria. Thus, in the case of cutting, there will be fewer germs around to enter the bloodstream.

Frequent washing of the legs is especially important in the event of a diabetes, a condition that makes people prone to ulcers and skin infections. Research has shown that diabetic patients contain a greater proportion of pathogenic bacteria that “inhabit” the skin.

“They are there and waiting for the opportunity to cause infection. Therefore, it is very important for people with diabetes to adhere to the hygiene of their feet because they are at greater risk of developing infection because of it. “says Wilkinson.

People with diabetes also have a reduced immune response, so if they stick to an infection, their bodies cannot cope with it. Patients with diabetes are also prone to cuts and wounds that do not heal. If they are not cared for early, then you may need to amputate your toes, legs or even extremities.

“If you have uncontrolled diabetes you may have damage to your feet nerves so you cannot feel your feet properly”says Wilkinson. “Simply the act of washing allows you to properly control your legs for any minor scratches or dryness that may contribute to the appearance of infection. “

What do they recommend to diabetics

For this reason, Wilkinson – and charities such as Diabetes UK – recommend that diabetics wash their feet every day.

But what about everyone else? Some experts argue that for most people, daily washing of foot has little health benefits and can even increase the risk of skin problems. After all, the skin is based on the community of its auxiliary germs to perform basic functions. The harmful bacteria are repelled, produce lipids that keep the skin hydrated and elastic and even help to restore wounds. Intensive washing and rubbing can remove these beneficial species, especially if the water is hot. As a result, the skin can become dry, irritated or itching. The cracked skin can allow the bacteria to violate the usually impermeable barrier of the skin, increasing the likelihood of infections.

“Excessive skin washing can disrupt skin barrier by removing the skin from natural oils, contributing to dryness and inflammation”says Zeichner. This leads to itching, dry skin and can aggravate situations such as eczema.
“It is also important not to excessively rub or exfoliate the skin on the legs,” Zeichner says. “Calves grow because of daily trauma. But they actually protect the feet from the environment. Call removal removes this protection. “

There is also concern that antibacterial soaps could disrupt the sensitive balance of microorganisms on the skin by killing beneficial species and allowing for more cruel, more antibiotic -resistant pathogens. Finally, our immune system must be faced with germs to “do its job”. If we do not come into contact with a steady flow of bacteria and viruses in childhood, then our body does not learn how to react properly to the attack. Some experts believe that a very common bathroom or shower can be counterproductive for that very reason.

How often do we need to wash legs

So this leaves us with the timeless question, how often do we have to wash our feet? The answer depends to some extent on the person.

“For people with diabetes, it is recommended 100% to wash your feet every day,” says Wilkinson. “But if you do not have underlying diseases, then dermatologists tend to advise that every two days are sufficient to keep good hygiene, without removing too many natural oils on the skin.”

However, Wilkinson points out that if one likes to run or exercise in the gym, then he will obviously need to wash his legs more regularly than someone who is less active. Not only is the frequency of washing. How the legs are washed and dried also has an impact on health.

“Many people believe that if you shower and let water run, this is the washing of the legs, but they are not – you really have to wash your legs with soapy water”, says Wilkinson.

However, according to Dan Baumgardt, a physician and lecturer of neuroscience and physiology at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, the most important thing to emphasize in patients is to make sure to dry their legs properly.