A majority of us usually get one of the most uncomfortable feelings in this world when we wear shoes with blisters on our feet. The swellings form due to pressure, heat, or friction.
When you have any sores on your feet, even walking is a chore.
Shoes provide an enclosed environment for this kind of injury, and the friction they cause makes it even more grueling and hurting. The excruciating feeling you are bound to experience can make you want to remove the shoes.
Here is the short answer to the question of how to wear shoes with blisters. Use a lot of lubricants, wear quality shoes and socks, dry your feet thoroughly when you leave the bathroom, and also wrap areas that might develop blisters.
But, what happens when you are in a position where you can’t remove the shoes? The following tips will show you how you can wear footwear even when you have blisters.
How to Prevent Blisters
Blisters often form on the feet of active people. To some individuals, they are almost synonymous with exercise. People who run, hike, walk, or even bike vigorously are most likely to suffer from them. However, you can prevent them easily.
So, if you belong to one of the categories above, you don’t have to suffer silently.
Even before you think of wearing shoes with blisters, you should avoid these terrible swellings on your feet. When you avert certain conditions, then they will not occur. Adhere to the following footwear tips daily to prevent these inflammations:
1. Lubrication
Identify the parts of your feet where friction is most likely to occur when you are exercising. These are the parts that demand focus. Aim to reduce unnecessary friction that leads to the annoying swellings in these areas.
The perfect remedy for this is to make sure that these sites are adequately lubricated.
Petroleum jelly is one of the best lubricants for this. However, you can also opt to use any other types that are available in the market for athletes, sportsmen and women, and runners. These lubricants will ensure that your feet will not rub against each other.
2. Wear quality footwear
The quality of the shoes you wear ultimately dictates the kind of treatment that your feet get. Therefore, when you buy shoes, ensure that they are quality shoes. If you wear shoes that cannot fit you, then they will either be too tight or too loose.
These two conditions might cause blisters on your feet, especially if they are too taut. It is because they facilitate friction and rubbing of your toes. Thus, make sure that you purchase the right size of footwear.
Unfortunately, some shoes might still give you blisters when you wear them initially. You should take this within your stride because as your feet get accustomed to them, the conditions will be better.
3. Dry your feet
Dry your feet thoroughly when you leave the bathroom. Never wear your shoes while your feet are still damp. Additionally, you can use other substances to ensure that they remain dry before you wear the footwear.
Apply dehydrating agents like talcum powder and corn starch to your socks and shoes to maintain the dryness. It will assist in trapping moisture that might render your feet damp. Consequently, it might lead to friction and blisters.
Further, when you wear the shoes for a considerable amount of time, make sure that you reapply more powder or starch periodically.
4. Wear quality socks
Quality socks may cost you more, but they are worth it since they keep your feet comfortable. When you buy socks, select the type that will keep moisture at bay.
Moreover, when you plan to perform any activities that might induce blisters, wear double socks or another pair that will provide extra padding. In case you go for a long walk, run or hike, aim to change them when they become moist.
5. Wrap areas that might develop blisters
When you provide padding to the areas that might develop blisters, they will not appear. Therefore, note these sites and wrap them with extra layers of padding for protection.
How to Treat Shoe Bites
A throbbing part on your feet is called a shoe bite. The cause of this injury is rubbing or friction from your footwear. A shoe bite might cause a blister or a sore spot. You can prevent it by purchasing quality shoes that fit you or avoiding shoes that might cause them.
However, once it forms, this is how you can treat it:
- Massage it with petroleum jelly. The jelly contains antimicrobial properties, and it has a repair barrier that promotes healing
- Use aloe vera gel on the location of the shoe bite. It is because it has anti-inflammatory features, and it promotes healing of all sores and wounds.
- Apply honey on the shoe bite. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-viral features.
- Treat the affected area with a mixture of sesame oil and honey. Apply it and let it dry before you wash the area with warm water.
- Mix water and rice flour and make a thick paste. Use it to exfoliate the area and rinse it off. It removes the cells of the dead skin that causes the shoe bite.
- Protect the areas on your feet that are likely to get friction. You can do this by wearing toe caps or toe protectors, wrapping the area with bandages, keep it dry, wear socks, and applying lubrication on those areas. You may also opt to cover the trouble spots on your feet with paper tape or surgical tape to avoid friction. Additionally, you can add insoles or shoe pads in your footwear.
Some shoes only cause discomfort and injury when they are new. Therefore, you can prevent the shoe bites by softening the material of the shoe or stretching it.
Use a shoe shaper to enlarge them gently. Also, massage them with natural oils like olive, coconut, neatsfoot, or mink. If it’s a leather shoe, then consider using a leather conditioner on it.
You may apply other localized methods on it to prevent shoe bites. Mold the shoes by putting them and then submerge your legs in water.
Walk around in them to complete the process. You can conveniently decide to stop wearing the shoes that cause injuries until they heal completely.
On the other hand, you may also use a warming method to expand the shoes. Do this by wearing your footwear with thick socks. Heat the problem areas of the shoe with a hairdryer. Walk around while wearing them, while they are still malleable, this will expand them.
In case the shoe bites persist even after applying all the above prevention and treatment measures, visit a podiatrist. The medical practitioner who is trained specifically for this kind of issue will suggest further options for handling it.
Home Remedies for Blisters
The formation of blisters is a natural defense mechanism that the skin uses to protect itself against heat, pressure, and friction. Others let them heal on their own. The blister also assists the skin recover naturally within its own time.
However, because of the pain they cause, it is better to cure them. When you open or pop the blister, you may allow germs to enter the gaping wound, and you might get an infection. Therefore, you may use natural products to treat them.
Prevention of the blisters is an excellent way to stop them from forming. When you wear ill-fitting shoes, you are promoting the formation of sores. Flip flops and other strappy sandals might also cause them. It is because these kinds of shoes will rub against your toes, and the friction might lead to them.
Therefore, to avoid the swellings wear shoes that fit you well. Avoid wearing floppy sandals with straps, especially when you note the formation of any sores. Some of the home remedies that you can use to cure blisters include the following:
1. Coconut Oil
Dab the area that is affected by the blister with a cotton ball dipped into coconut oil. Make sure that you melt the coconut oil if it has solidified.
The oil is composed of a fatty acid called lauric acid that hydrates the skin and reduces inflammation. Therefore, it boosts the healing of wounds and supports the repair of tissues.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera contains vital properties that promote the healing of wounds, decrease inflammation, encourage the generation of cells, and raise the production of collagen in the body.
You can choose to apply the natural gel from the plant directly or purchase products or ointments that contain them.
3. Calendula
Marigold plants contain calendula. The purpose of this compound is to support the healing of the skin. It also lessens the swelling and inflammation of the blisters. It is strong, and you should have a skin patch test before you use it.
4. Vaseline
Apply vaseline on the area to encourage the healing of the blister. The petroleum jelly contains properties that heal and treat wounds. Additionally, it also acts as a blistering cover, especially when it bursts.
How long does it take for a blister to go away?
A blister may heal naturally, even without treatment. Nevertheless, due to the terrible pain, it causes it requires the application of natural remedies or medical attention.
You should wear the correct type of shoes for the blister to recover well. Generally, it takes a maximum of seven days and a minimum of three days for it to heal.
Should I pop a blister?
You should not pop the blister if you want it to heal faster. If you do this, it might lead to an infection, and it will also make the blister heal slowly.
Though, if it bursts on its own, never peel the dead skin that naturally forms on top. However, if it is irritated, painful, or large, you might consider visiting a doctor who will assist you.