Flips flops are a classic summer accessory that started as beach attire and worked their way into everyday fashion.
And while, yes, flip flops can be a cheap and easy alternative to high-priced sandals, they can also cause some serious damage to your feet.
Flip flops serve a great purpose if you're showering at the gym or walking around the public pool, but according to Dr. Jackie Sutera with the American Podiatric Medical Association, flop flops are NOT a replacement for real sandals.
Here's why.
1. Bacteria and other Gross Stuff
Flip flops do just that...they flip and they flop. The looseness of the footwear exposes your foot to an insane amount of bacteria and even some seriously nasty stuff like Staphylococcus. If you get a staph infection in an open wound, you could be setting yourself up for very severe consequences.
Wearing flip flops is basically like walking bare foot, and odds are you wouldn't do that willingly.
2. Need for Speed
Wearing flip flops has been proven to slow you down because you're working to keep them on your feet. And no one likes a slow walker.
3. Heel or No Heel
Flip flops offer next-to-no support when you're walking, which means your heel hits the ground with much more force. If you walk or stand in flip flops for an extended period of time, you're setting yourself up for heel pain and potential damage.
4. Your Toes Will Hate You
Hammertoes don't sound pleasant, right? Well that's what you're setting yourself up for wearing flip flops. Because there's just a strap of plastic holding on to your foot, your toes have to work extra hard to grip the base as you're walking so your flip flops don't fall off.
Overtime, the knuckles of your toes will bend awkwardly and ultimately deform, leaving you with unsightly hammertoes. They're also painful, stiff, and if they're bad enough require surgery.
5. Boooo Blisters
Does this even need to be said? No one likes blisters and flip flops are basically guaranteed to give you some. Is it really worth it?
6. Beauty Should NOT Be Pain
You may have found a cute pair of flip flops, but if your foot isn't perfect (and whose is?) you're setting yourself up for a bad time. If you have a flat foot, you need arch support which there is none of in flip flops. Your joints then have to over compensate, which can cause your body to ache all over. Probably not what you're looking for.
So there you have it. Is your summer fashion really worth all these problems? Probably not.
