The real problem is that people are wearing flip-flops while doing everything from skateboarding to gardening to running errands, Oswell said.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem

Oswell's go-to shoe for everyday wear is a pair of tennis shoes.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem

Shoes should flex where your foot bends, said Noreen Oswell, a podiatrist at The Foot Center at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Towers in Los Angeles.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem

Oswell agrees that there times when wearing flip-flops can be beneficial.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem

Crocs, which have some structure, cushion and breathability, can be an easy alternative to flip-flops, while sandals with a substantial foot bed and softer and broader straps are also a better option, Oswell said.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem

"It's not that they wear them, " Oswell said.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem

Oswell said wearing flip-flops can be seriously detrimental for people whose feet are already at risk: For people with diabetes, who often have poor circulation and feeling in their feet, wearing flip-flops can expose them not only to injury but to infection.

CNN: Flip-flops present feet with a painful problem