A Simple Guide to Preventing Blisters

If you’ve ever walked in a pair of shoes that didn’t fit exactly right, or done yard work without a pair of gloves, you’ve likely given yourself a blister. While there are remedies out there, or at least suggestions on what to do for the blister, the best remedy is to follow the old saying about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. In other words, don’t get a blister in the first place.

Foot Blisters

The blisters you get from friction are sometimes difficult to avoid. Blisters on the foot are very common, because most people can’t afford custom-made shoes that hug the contour of their feet. There are a few things you can do to help prevent such blisters, though.

• Try to get a shoe that is as close-fitting as possible to your foot’s shape. If you have wide feet, don’t try to cram them into a narrow shoe. Buying shoes a little big (a half size or so) for kids usually isn’t a big deal since they grow out of the shoes so quickly. However, it’s not a good idea for an adult to buy shoes that are too big.

• Wear some type of protection from chafing. This will usually be socks, which is difficult to do with high heels. However, you can get blisters while wearing sneakers or loafers too, so socks will be a great idea. Make sure you get a pair that will give you cushioning without taking all the room in the shoe, or you’ll be back to chafing and blisters.

• Look into one of the products out there that will protect areas where you tend to blister. This can be a patch that sticks on, or a lubricant like marathon runners use. Using talc to keep your foot dry may also prevent chafing. These methods work well with blister-causing high heels.

Hand Blisters

Blisters on your hands are generally caused by overdoing. The spring is prime time for getting blisters because, after being inside all winter, you’re back outside doing yard work. The hard handles on your tools, including rakes, shovels, and trowels, will irritate your skin as you use them. There are a couple of ways to prevent this.

• Invest in yard tools with soft, foam, or otherwise padded handles. The extra give is easier on your skin.
• Buy good work gloves. You want quality protection, so spending a bit more will save your hands in the long run.

Other Blisters

The hands and feet are the areas most likely to suffer from the chafing that causes blisters. However, if you suffer from blisters in another area, the trick is to reduce any possible chafing, whether from clothing, sweat or friction. If the condition persists or gets worse, go see your doctor.

Blisters that are caused by burns, whether from the sun or touching something hot, are fairly easy to prevent. Just stay out of the sun or use sunblock to avoid sunburns, and don’t touch anything such as a hair curling or clothing iron, or anything that’s recently been on the stove. Otherwise, if you get a bad enough burn, you must expect your skin to blister.