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Foot blisters are a dreadful thing, they hurt and they sting and, most of the times, they are very hard to treat or heal. For that reason, if you are an outdoorsy person and you are planning on running the marathon, going hiking or doing any kind of prolonged walking, then it is important to know a couple of tips on blister prevention. Before actually diving into the topic on how to prevent foot blisters, you should first know that these annoying little swellings are the result of friction. Feet and toes experience high friction when they are too hot, wet or dirty. To that extent, the very first piece of advice in avoiding blisters from forming is to keep your feet cool, dry and clean. You can also reduce friction and the risk of blisters by purchasing blister prevention socks, which have become very popular lately and many podiatrists recommend them. Another piece of advice for minimising friction is choosing the right pair of shoes for you. It’s always good to have a thumb’s width between the end of your toes and the shoe, in order to reduce rubbing to a minimum. Also, you should stay away from shoes with pressure points and be sure to break in a new pair of shoes, especially if you plan to wear them in extended activities. As mentioned above, wearing the right socks is equally important and blister prevention socks are a wise investment. Tube socks are a bad idea, because they are too loose and will allow rubbing. Many people believe cotton socks are the best because cotton absorbs moisture and therefore the feet remain dry, but the truth is that cotton is a lot more abrasive than many other fabrics, also leading to high friction. Nylon socks are a good choice and if you are afraid they will wear through, you can add a pair of thick socks over. Wearing two pairs of socks will definitely reduce friction as much as possible, therefore preventing blisters from forming. Another tip that might help is applying lubricant and foot powder onto your feet. Talcum and corn starch also works, as does changing your socks often. You can also apply blister block tape on the areas where blisters are most prone to form. Apart from blister prevention socks and friction reduction techniques, another thing that you can do in this situation is to toughen up your skin. Tough skin is less likely to form blisters and you can achieve this by applying tincture or alcohol or by walking barefoot inside your home or in your garden, whatever outdoor area is safe. The bottom line is that blisters are not only annoying and painful, but can also lead to more aggravated conditions, such as infection infections, reason for which marathon runners, mountain guides and other individuals who make great use of their feet must do everything in their power to prevent them. Asking for medical advice or seeing a podiatrist is also highly recommendable. To learn more about blister prevention or to find blister prevention socks, please follow this link.
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