Sometimes, the joys of buying a new pair of shoes can be so easily forgotten when you remember that you will have to deal with the pain of a newly-formed blister for the coming weeks.
Most women are resigned to the fact that blisters have become a part of owning a pair of shoes that you love, but we at The Weekly believe otherwise.
With the help of these easy tips, say goodbye to your days of limping around in agony or having to carry another pair of flats in your bag just in case your shoes start to bite back. Happy feet days are here to stay!
Images: 123RF, Pixabay, Showbit. This post first appeared on 25th April 2017.
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One of the easiest ways would be to rely on blister-preventing lubricants.
Simply swipe it all over your feet before your shoes go on and the idea is that the lubricant will remove the friction that would normally cause these painful blisters.
It’s a little messy if you’re a first-time user, but with enough practice, you’ll be a pro at identifying blister-prone areas to target.
Foot Glide Anti-Blister Stick, $17.90, from Guardian.
Breaking a pair of shoes in is a well-known part of buying new footwear. But while most women would often rush into wearing (and enduring) their new heels for a week or two, we recommend taking your time to ease into them.
To start, spend no more than a few hours a day wearing them indoors. You could wear them at home while watching the evening news, or walk around the office in them for a couple of hours before changing out of them. This form of breaking shoes in will allow your skin to get used to the shoes, and for the shoes to start moulding to fit your foot.
Have a part of your shoe rubbing you the wrong way? Foot petals might help.
Identify the areas that are causing the most friction between your foot and the shoe, then stick some foot petals into the area to prevent excessive rubbing that lead to blister.
Don’t forget to trim the petals down if they’re too large! No point having nice shoes if you’re going to see these petals peaking out.
Foot Petals Technogel Tip Toes, $12.90, from redmart.com.
This might sound counter-intuitive to preventing blisters, but hear us out.
Moisturizing your feet every night after a shower can actually help you to build strong skin that can withstand more friction without breaking.
Also, before you reach for the pumice to sand away your calluses, consider keeping them and applying moisturizer over them as well. Calluses are the skin’s natural shield against painful blisters, but keeping it too dry will result in it cracking and causing further pain.
Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme, $26, from Sephora.
Blisters can also occur when your feet are constantly sliding inside your shoes due to slippery insoles. While straps can only do so much in holding your feet in place, go for a pair of insoles to help you keep your feet from causing further friction.
Plus, they also help in providing extra comfort and support, so it’s a triple win!
Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Extra Support Insoles from drscholls.com.
Cushioned band-aids are a last-ditch attempt at avoiding blisters. The cushioning help to block the skin from the shoe, but because the stickiness wears off when it comes into contact with sweat, it would be wise to keep a couple more band-aid plasters in your bag.
If you’re wearing socks, then you don’t have to worry about the plasters. Otherwise, we will be totally honest and admit that while it’s unsightly, it does most of the work in staving off blisters.
Hansaplast Aqua Protect, $5.40 (box of 20), from Watsons.
If all else fails in preventing blisters, then maybe try wearing your heels with a pair of fun socks. They add an extra layer of protection, while allowing you to experiment with different pattern and colour combinations.
Importantly, choose a thin pair that wouldn’t add on bulk to your feet. Because if blisters are annoying, having your shoes feel too tight because of the socks feel worse.
If you’ve done everything to prevent a blister and it still pops up, then you’re only left with the choice of bearing with the pain, or having to pop it.
Before popping, make sure you clean your hands and feet with sterilizing soap and warm water.
Then, sterilize a needle with some heat or rubbing alcohol, and with a deep breath, make a small puncture at the edge of the blister.
Use a cotton gauze to soak up the draining fluid, before applying antibacterial ointment and covering with a plaster.
We should caution you that popping your blister should only be done if you are unable to walk or it is causing too much pain. If you can tolerate the blister, most of the time, they tend to go away on their own within a few days.
Sometimes, prevention is the best method. This also means that you make sure to try on the shoe properly in-store before making the purchase.
Different brands can run differently in terms of cutting, so never take for granted that your next purchase will fit like the one before – even if you’re buying for the same brand again.
Rather, take some time to try on both sides of the shoes and have a walk around the store to see how they fit. It helps you identify potential blister areas, which will aid in your decision-making process as well!
- TAGS:
- blisters
- Fashion
- Guides
- shoes
- style advice