When the weirdly (some would say ugly) shaped rubber footwear, Crocs, hit the market in the early 2000’s, no one expected they would become so popular 10 years later.However, they did, and for some people, they replaced not only their indoor footwear but also their flip-flops, sandals and even regular shoes.
Although quite comfortable, recent research has shown that Crocs may have some adverse health effects.
Foot Health and Crocs
According to some podiatrists, Crocs are simply not suitable for everyday, all-day use. This is because these rubber shoes do not adequately secure the heel. The problem with this is, when the heel is not supported and stable, toes tend to grip leading to all kinds of issues, including nail problems, calluses, tendonitis and even toe deformities.
On top of that, Crocs actually make people more clumsy –because they don’t secure your feet properly, you’re much more likely to trip and fall while wearing them!
Fake Crocs and Cancer
As if this was not enough, a recent lab analysis that was conducted in Germany, showed that rubber shoes similar to Crocs – fake Crocs – contain cancerous substances than can be absorbed through the skin.
In fact, when Westdeutscher Rundfunk, a German broadcasting institution sent 10 different pairs of these rubber shoes to a lab for analysis, it was found that six out of ten of those shoes contained polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These chemicals are proven to be dangerous and cancerous, and are linked to an increased risk of developing skin, liver a lung cancer.
Insist on Wearing Crocs? Be Careful
If you absolutely must wear Crocs, at least make sure you’re buying the real deal and not copies. Although real Crocs have been shown to contain no polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, they still contain certain substances that can cause skin irritation as well as allergic reaction. For this reason, it’s a good idea to wear socks with your Crocs, as they will help reduce the amount of contact between your skin and shoes.
