Summer’s here, and while everyone’s breaking out the flip-flops and planning beach days, there’s a surprising number of people who’d rather keep their feet under wraps. A new survey reveals that 44% of Americans are self-conscious about their feet – and honestly, we get it!

The Great Foot Cover-Up

Picture this: You’re getting ready for a pool party, eyeing those cute sandals you bought months ago, but instead you reach for your trusty sneakers. Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone. The survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Kerasal, found that a whopping 66% of people have avoided wearing open-toed shoes because they’re worried about how their toenails look.

And here’s where it gets really interesting – Gen X leads the pack when it comes to foot embarrassment at 49%, followed closely by millennials at 45%. Gen Z comes in at 42%, proving that foot insecurities aren’t just a “getting older” thing!

What’s Got Everyone So Worried?

The top foot fears might surprise you (or maybe they won’t if you’re nodding along):

• Foot odor takes the crown at 50%
• Toenail fungus comes in second at 42%
• Toe hair at 16% (hey, it happens to the best of us!)
• Toe shape at 14%

Ladies, we’re looking at you too – 47% of women specifically feel self-conscious about their feet at the start of a pedicure when the old polish comes off. Another 36% admit to hiding foot issues with shoes or nail polish. We’ve all been there!

The Reality Check

Here’s something that might make you feel better (or worse, depending on how you look at it): 28% of people have dealt with fungal nail infections. And surprisingly, younger folks aren’t immune – 38% of those affected were Gen Z or millennials.

But here’s the kicker – when asked how often they take care of their feet, only 22% said “always.” So maybe we’re all just being a little too hard on ourselves about body parts we’re not even maintaining regularly!

The Struggle is Real

The survey also revealed the biggest challenges people face with foot care:

• Lack of time (25%) – because who has time for a foot spa routine between work, kids, and everything else?
• Lack of knowledge (22%) – fair enough, foot care isn’t exactly covered in health class
• Financial costs (21%) – professional pedicures add up!
• Difficulty finding products that work (20%)

Plot Twist: Some People Are REALLY Confident

While many of us are hiding our feet, there’s a bold 29% of Americans who are so confident about their feet that they’ve considered selling pictures of them online (if there were no consequences). Talk about foot confidence goals!

The Bottom Line

Maybe it’s time we all give our feet a little love instead of hiding them away. As Whitney Kopp from Kerasal puts it: “Our feet carry us through so much, yet they’re often the most overlooked part of self-care.”

And here’s a fun fact that might make you feel better about rocking those sandals: 42% of Americans think it’s perfectly acceptable to wear sandals no matter the season. Even in the Northeast and Midwest, about 30% of people say bring on the sandals, weather be damned!

So this summer, maybe it’s time to show those toes some love – whether that’s finally booking that pedicure, investing in some good foot care products, or just embracing the fact that everyone’s got foot insecurities. After all, life’s too short to spend it in closed-toe shoes all summer long!

Survey data from Talker Research, conducted on behalf of Kerasal, surveying 2,000 Americans between April 16-24, 2025.