# Do you need to wear sandals / flip-flops in changing rooms? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871 "2016-06-20T06:15:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/1 "2016-06-20T06:15:46Z")
I have a feeling this is one of the dumbest questions ever asked here, but anyway: I started to read a lot of advice that says that you should wear sandals or flip-flops in changing rooms to avoid getting, for example, athlete’s foot. So I tried this, with the simple assumption that my bare feet must not touch the ground at any time. But found it quite a hassle. Changing shoes and socks becomes awkward (note there’s often nowhere to sit), and washing my feet properly too. Am I taking the advice too literally? Should I only care about wet areas of floor, or only when I’m not in the shower cubicle? Or something else? ---
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/2 "2016-06-20T07:35:29Z")
I always wear flip flops, especially in wet areas and the shower. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/3 "2016-06-20T09:59:21Z")
I thought that it was verrucas that we were avoiding. A cheap pair of plastic flipflops are easy to get on and off and should be worn in all areas out of the water. > [@](#): > > HPV [human papilloma virus] is passed on through close skin-to-skin contact. It can also be transmitted indirectly by contact with contaminated objects, such as towels, shoes, areas surrounding swimming pools, or the floors of communal changing areas. > > Warts are thought to be contagious for as long as they are present on your body. The virus is more likely to spread if the skin is wet, soft or has been in contact with a rough surface. > > Warts can also be spread to other parts of your own body. You can spread the virus if you: > scratch, knock or bite a wart > bite your nails or suck your fingers (if they have warts on them) > shave your face or legs > This can cause the wart to break up and bleed, making it easier for the virus to spread. You are more vulnerable to verrucas if you have scratches or cuts on the soles of your feet. > > [Warts and verrucas - NHS](http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Warts/Pages/Introduction.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/4 "2016-06-20T10:23:53Z")
I rarely wear shoes (at all, not just in change rooms etc), and I have had a total of one veruca in my 40 years - when I was about 8. The risk is minimal. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/5 "2016-06-20T10:35:26Z")
To be fair, the risk is minimal for some people - folks vary considerably in their vulnerability to things like warts and foot fungus. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/6 "2016-06-20T14:03:04Z")
You should be OK wearing your socks in a dry floor changing room (don’t need to switch socks!). And wear flip flops in a wet area. The worst is bare feet in an inside public wet shower area. Interesting I’ve never had any problems in an outside swimming pool area?? Chlorine in the water kills athletes foot perhaps? Or maybe the sunshine? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/7 "2016-06-20T15:08:11Z")
Direct sunshine kills a lot of things, actually. It’s the UV. Given enough time and exposure it’s been known to kill even something as large as a human. ---
**Author:** ![cmdrpiffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b4bc9f/32.png) [@cmdrpiffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmdrpiffle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/8 "2016-06-22T02:35:29Z")
Reality check. No, you don’t need to wear sandals, zorries, flip flops, in a shower area. Anything on the floor you don’t want to be in contact with, is going to ‘flip’ up onto the flip flop anyway. Additionally, many flip flops are death traps on smooth wet surfaces…I’m looking at you Locals… As for the original question about the ‘changing area’, can’t hurt might help. I’m one of the aforementioned people that has gone barefoot all of my life. It wouldn’t bother me personally, but some folks are ‘sensitive’, or may have open cracks on their feet. And finally…for the OP. If you really felt the need to research about bare feet in a locker room, like you stated, "I\* started to read a lot of advice that says that you should wear sandals or flip-flops in changing rooms to avoid getting, for example\* You probably shouldn’t be in a locker room in the first place. You probably shouldn’t ask the question on an internet forum either. Stay home. The outside world is a scary place sometimes:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-wear-sandals-flip-flops-in-changing-rooms/757871/9 "2016-06-22T07:11:05Z")
**cmdrpiffle** , if you’re imagining someone looking for reassurance from the internet before they dare set foot out of the house, you couldn’t be further off from the truth. I actually either go to the gym or go for a run, or both, _every day_. I only started to consider this issue because of my high exposure / risk.