Silver Ions

Socks with silver ions.

This section  provides information on the functions and dysfunction
of our skin. How can:

• Silversoft®
• Silversoft® Over the Calf
• Silversoft® Pluch Sole

Help the natural functions of the skin to strengthen:

• What are the functions of our skin?
• What is the process of silver ions?
• What happens with bacteria and fungi?
• In which cases can Silversoft® Socks help to be preventive and amplify?

Features of our skin:

Our skin has many functions for different purposes.  Our outer skin protects
underlying tissues, organs and muscles. It protects our body from dehydration
and it regulates the temperature. Our skin also protects against harmful bacteria
which wants to intrude our body. Because our feet are usually enclosed with
socks and shoes its an excellent breeding place for bacteria.

Our feet have the thickest skin (4mm) The skin exists of different layers:

• Epidermis
• Dermis
• Corium

Epidermis:

In the lower part of  the epidermis, the place where we generate young skin, are also the cells of our immune system. These are the cells which protect us against bacteria.

Dermis:

This second skin layer is very  resilient and elastic. In this part of the skin are located: blood vessels, skin, muscles, sebaceous glands, nerves and sweat glands.

Corium:

This third skin layer is also called the subcutaneous fat tissue. A set of fat cells and fibres. This layer protects us against, among  cooling. The fat cells store reserve fat, the corium functions as a energy storage. Other purpose of the corium is to function as cushion.

Blood Vessels and Nerves:

In our skin there are two different types of nerves, sensory nerves and the involuntary nerves. Our sensory nerves will trigger a warning signal when cold, heat, touch but also react to pain, one example is when having a little wound. We get goose bumps by the involuntary nerves.

For diabetes patients, polyneuropathy often plays an important role in the development of diabetic foot ulcers. Neuropathy can lead to an insensitive foot, an abnormal course pattern, increased pressure and / or shear forces. Diabetics with neuropathy usually don’t feel pain when they get a little wound on their feet. Harmful bacteria can intrude the skin without hindrance and facilitate foot ulcers. Recovery from foot ulcers often lasts long and unfortunately it’s not in rare cases that amputations become a consequence. For this reason Silversoft® is suitable for diabetics because of its antibacterial effect.

Sebaceous Glands:

Sebaceous glands create sebum. Sebum protects against dehydration and growth of bacteria. Sebum contains acidic substances, harmful bacteria don’t grow on the skin. However, on our soles of our feet there are no sebaceous glands present.

Sweat Glands:

Sweat glands are present everywhere in our skin. Eccrine sweat glands is a type of
gland which produces a thin layer of sweat which can appear all over our body,
especially on our soles of our feet.  This sweats purpose is to cool our body after
exercise or during a walk. Fresh sweat is odourless, however, bacteria that lives
on our skin, process this sweat into fragrances. It’s the skin bacteria which are
responsible for the typical sweat odour.

On the woman’s skin there are other bacteria living then on the men’s skin.
The sweat of woman smells different than for men.

The bacteria which process our sweat into certain fragrances become attracted by
there negative charge towards the positive charge of the silver ions. The active
silver ions enclose the harmful bacteria and suffocates it, which will stop odorous
feet. All of our products into our shop contains this property.

Explanation of how silver ions work within Lindner Medical Silversoft® socks:

Harmful Bacteria:

In our epidermis the cells of our immune system are located. Harmful bacteria which  manages to intrude are addressed by our immune cells. This is a complicated process. There is a kind of inflammatory reaction in which several substances are released by harmful bacteria become harmless.

The immune process is sometimes wrong (diabetes)

Sometimes it goes wrong anyway. There is a chance that allergy or hypersensitivity  occur. In case of allergy the immune system can react violently to substances or micro organisms. Hypersensitivity is not the same as allergy. It’s a superficial irritation of the skin when certain substances get in contact with the skin. These substances cause irritation in certain people or it doesn’t effect other people at all. People who have irritation symptoms, there is hypersensitivity. The socks from Lindner are extensively dermatological tested. ( by Proderm ) and don’t cause any skin reactions or hypersensitivity.

A lot of skin defects occur for Patients who have diabetes mellitus. One skin defect for diabetics can start with an “innocent” blister, however eventually can lead to amputation of toes or a complete foot. One small foot ulcer can cause amputation within 48 hours.

Picture 1:  Actively of  silver ions:

In a warm and humid environment ( socks and shoes ) is an ideal breeding place for bacteria. Left you see the skin and right the Silversoft® sock. Positive charged silver ions ( AG+ ) become active of body heat and moisture ( sweat ) when wearing Silversoft® socks. Bacteria and fungi contains a negative charge, depicted as – . because of the positive charge and negative charge a magnetic reaction is created.

Picture 2:  Combat bacteria:

Because of the positive charge of the actively silver ions, the bacteria will be
attracted from the skin towards the sock, enclosed, suffocated and directly
made inactive by the silver ions.


Silver ions have the following effects on harmful bacteria:

• Disrupt the proteins of the cell membrane.
• Cause structural changes in the bacterial cell wall.
• Destroy the nucleic acid ( DNA )
• Inhibit the action of bacterial enzymes.

In which cases Silversoft® socks can help:

• Athlete's foot / fungal
• Foot odour nuisance
• Diabetic foot ulcers
• Blisters
• Eczema
• Atrophic skin


Athlete's foot / fungal:

Mycosis ( fungi ) is caused by infection. Often of influence are:

• Use of certain types of soap
• Pinching and sweating
• Wearing plastic ( polyester ) socks and tights ( nylon )
• Not drying the skin well enough after washing, bathing or after showering.
• To walk barefoot.

Mold is often present in the seams of socks. In general fungal skin may occur
in different variants and can be responsible for other infections. In the Netherlands more than 3 million people have athlete’s foot, what to do?

Wear preferably Silversoft®. These are cotton socks made of 98% cotton. Cotton wicks moisture very well and are seamless. Fungi are often present in seams. By 2% elastan the socks and knee socks are very elastic and prevents blistering. Pressure points often cause skin defects such as blisters. The silver ions within the socks also contains an antibacterial effect that the fungus is contested. Moreover,better for our environment than antibiotics.