Blisters on the feet are common in many people. Blisters are usually formed by friction, heat and perspiration. There are a number of preventative measures that can be taken to prevent these painful foot blisters from occurring.
One of the most important factors is the type of footwear you wear. The shoes you wear could be causing blisters on your feet. Your shoes must fit correctly to prevent blisters from forming. Shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause blisters on your feet. There should be a good amount of space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
There should be enough room in your shoes for your toes to move around, and you should also make sure there is no slippage in the heel grip area. Breathable shoes made from materials like mesh or fabric combined with leather are great for preventing blisters on your feet. Also remember to check the inside of the shoe for frayed areas or seams that could rub against your skin when walking.
Socks are also important to protect your feet from blisters. Try to select socks that are neither too tight nor too baggy. Avoid socks as they don’t fit your foot well enough. Cotton socks should be avoided as cotton absorbs moisture and tends to be rougher than other materials. Make sure the socks do not have bulky toe seams as this will also cause chafing when walking.
Try not to wear very worn socks. Holes and thin areas can cause friction and blisters on your feet. Using some type of powder before putting on your socks can help keep your feet dry. Using talcum powder, cornstarch, or foot powder is a great way to keep moisture out of the foot area.
There are special lubricants, sprays and creams that specifically prevent the appearance of blisters on the feet. If you find that blisters appear at specific points on your feet, applying these treatments before walking can help prevent the blister from forming. These treatments can usually be found at drug stores and shoe stores. They can be used as a preventative measure to cushion the area where foot blisters occur.
Long-distance hikers often apply tincture of benzoin to the skin every day for a few weeks. This hardens the area and prevents blisters on your feet. Soothing your skin with a moisturizer is another way to prevent foot blisters.
Another common practice is to wrap or secure the feet with moleskin or sports tape. It is important that the tape is applied smoothly so that wrinkles do not appear. You can also use moleskin to cover a blister on your foot that has already appeared. The mole skin must be cut into a ring with a hole in the middle in which the blister is; this will dampen the bubble but not actually cover it. Fortunately, using one or all of these methods will help you to prevent or treat foot blisters that do occur.