Nearly half of Americans won’t show their feet in public: survey

Forty-four percent of Americans are self-conscious about their feet.

That’s according to a new survey that examined how 2,000 people around the country feel about their feet.

The survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Kerasal revealed that Gen X was the most embarrassed by their feet (49%), followed by millennials (45%) and Gen Z (42%).

In fact, two-thirds (66%) have avoided wearing open-toed shoes due to concerns about how their toenails look.

Almost half (47%) of women, specifically, have felt self-conscious about what their feet look like at the beginning of their pedicure after their polish came off, and an additional 36% said they actually hide their issues with shoes or nail polish.

Factors like smell (50%), toenail fungus (42%), toe hair (16%) and toe shape (14%) are the most common reasons keeping people from showing off their feet. 

Twenty-eight percent of people also shared they’ve had fungal nail infections. Of those who have, almost two in five (38%) were Gen Z or Millennials. 

When asked about the biggest challenges they face when caring for their nails or feet, respondents cited several common issues: lack of time (25%), lack of knowledge (22%), financial costs (21%) and difficulty finding products that work (20%).

“Feet play a critical role in wellbeing and overall health,” said Whitney Kopp, Head of Kerasal. “A lot of people struggle with foot insecurities, like toenail fungus, that prevent them from enjoying simple pleasures such as wearing sandals or visiting a spa. The good news is that these concerns are often easily manageable. Appearance plays a big role in confidence, and with the right care, anyone can feel great about showing off their feet.”

Foot odor and toenail fungus ranked as the most embarrassing things for someone you’re dating to see. In fact, 41% said they’d reconsider dating someone with unkempt feet.

And for the opportunity to have ‘perfect feet’, 30% of respondents said they would give up alcohol, and 20% said they would give up coffee.

At the other end of the scale, some people are extremely confident in their feet, so much so that almost one in three (29%) Americans have considered selling pictures of their feet if there were no repercussions. 

Despite some embarrassment, Americans still proudly show their feet off all year round, with 42% saying it’s acceptable to wear sandals no matter the season.

This doesn’t just ring true for those in warmer regions of the country either. Close to a third of respondents in the Northeast (30%) and the Midwest (31%) say it’s perfectly fine to wear sandals no matter how low the temperature drops.

Our feet carry us through so much, yet they’re often the most overlooked part of self-care,” added Kopp. “This research shows just how deeply appearance and confidence are connected. It’s a reminder that small acts of care can make a big difference in how we feel day to day.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans; the survey was commissioned by Kerasal and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 16–24, 2025.