Your feet are microbial hotspots. The area between your toes is packed with sweat glands, and when we wrap our feet in socks and shoes, we trap that moisture in a warm, humid cocoon that's ideal for microbial growth.

In fact, your feet may be home to a miniature rainforest of bacteria and fungi, with anywhere from 100 to 10 million microbial cells per square centimeter of skin surface.

Not only do feet host a huge variety of microorganisms – up to 1,000 different species per person – but they also have a wider range of fungal species than any other part of the body. That means your feet aren't just sweaty or smelly – they're genuinely biodiverse.

Because your feet are microbe-rich, your socks become prime real estate for these same bacteria and fungi. Studies show that socks har

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