As a lady, I understand the need of every woman to look glamorous from her head down to her gorgeous feet. However, we all know how even some beautiful shoes can hurt so much that you’d rather just go bare foot. The issue with ill-fitting shoes or our beloved five-inch stilettos is pretty much how they can wreak havoc on not just our feet, but our entire body. Yet, we just can’t seem to quit!
Comfort is key—which explains why a research published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice revealed that wearing impractical shoes not only weakens your ankle muscles, but can also cause an imbalance in four ankle muscles. Did that hit home? Well, if you’re like me, then, you’d be familiar with the pain around the tip of the toes and the perpetual blisters at the back of the heels, depending on how long you wear them. Yikes.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather never get another blister for as long as I live. Here are some amazing tips for having blister-free feet.
Get a perfect fit
Okay, let’s face it—some of our shoes are just a little too tight or too big. But if you are to prevent blisters on your feet, then only buy shoes in the right size, stick to those made of natural materials, and break into new ones slowly. In addition, to prevent friction to the back of your heel, ensure your shoe doesn’t have a stiff back—it should be soft and flexible.
And if you can, touch a cotton ball to alcohol and rub it around the inside of your tight shoes. After which, you can walk in them putting on thick socks. Doing this for about an hour will stretch out the shoes a bit and make them a customized fit!
Reduce the possibility of friction
To reduce or get rid of painful blisters on the feet, try out blister blocks. You can find them in grocery and drugstores. They come in deodorant-like sticks and can be applied to blister-prone areas. Thankfully, its lubricating effect doesn’t leave your feet feeling slippery, which is a huge plus.
Do you have a silicon-based hair serum? Excellent! That would work too. Just apply a few drops to the part of your foot where the shoe rubs, and you’d be fine!
Ditch the ones with angled heels
The worst thing you can do to your leg, back and spine is to keep wearing a shoe whose heel has become angled. Of course, you should know that after a while, the sides of soles wear out. But that’s why we have shoe repair stores. You either fix the heel or ditch the shoe!
In addition, if your running shoe is worn out or older than a year, simply use it for walking. Otherwise, you’d be hurting your feet as they lose the capacity to absorb shock. Preserve your running shoes for running only. This way, you won’t be exposing the sole to humidity and you’d be prolonging their lifespan.
Choose your heels wisely
Just in case it doesn’t go without saying, we’ll be clear: Heels are capable of altering your body posture and hurting your ankles, back, knees, and spine.
As for the best way to wear dress shoes, there are tons of options. Only wear higher heels when you have to. Otherwise, simply go for a lower heel shoe, those with wide heels, the ones that do not curve in, or good old wedges. Trying any of these options will keep your feet comfortable even if you have to walk long distances.
Wear the right socks
Putting on synthetic instead of cotton socks seems like the right thing to do in preventing blisters. It is well-known that cotton retains sweat and softens the skin. This can make your feet more prone to friction and blisters.
The best way to address this is to wear thicker socks in shoes with a lot of room, and thinner ones for those with little room. It is also recommended that you change your socks if your feet get wet from rain.
Always tie and untie your shoes
One way to make sure your shoe fits snugly is realize that your shoes are an extension of your foot. Ensure they don’t fit loosely or slide around. Also, avoid pulling off your shoe without first untying it. Doing this will break down the support in the shoe.
Protect blister-prone areas
Blisters aren’t fun and if you always suffer one in the same spot, then cover that part with a bandage or pad before wearing your shoes.
Coverups don’t just go a long way to protecting your feet; they also keep blisters from getting infected. Besides bandages and pads, there are many other products that can provide protection and treatment before or after a blister.
How to treat blisters
Dear exercise buffs and high heels enthusiasts, if you notice a blister developing, stop walking, change shoes, and protect it with loose bandage. Now, if the blister is considerably large, it is best to drain it. Simply puncture it with a sterilized needle and carefully press the fluid out. Gently wash the area with soap and water. To minimize the risk of infection, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.
If you notice signs of infections on blisters, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider. Also, if you are diabetic and experience inflammation, redness, tenderness and pain on your feet, also contact a qualified medical provider.
We bet these tips came in handy. Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
