You don't have to be female to get blisters from poorly fitting footwear but it helps. We probably are more prone to this than the men.
What is it about pretty shoes and sandals?
They can make otherwise intelligent women become willing to crush toes into shoes that are too small, or stilt themselves on heels that are too high.
If all women were completely sensible about their footwear, blisters would not afflict so many of them.
Don't want to go up a size so that your sandals will actually fit you?
Trying to ignore the pain screaming in all your toes because the cute to-die-for shoes only come in a size that's too small for you?
You can do that. You can live that way. Maybe you have been living that way.
Women have been doing it as long as there have been shoes. But be assured of this -- you'll pay for it.
Friction between foot and shoe is the direct route to blisters.
Ironic, isn't it? The desire for feet that are a thing of beauty can lead you to cram those feet into shoes that don't fit ... ultimately leaving your feet oozing, bleeding and disfigured. A thing of beauty no more.
There must be a better way. And there is.
Now that you're staring down sandal weather and semi-nude feet, take steps to wear those flip flops unadorned with festering, oozing sores.
A few simple precautions will save you from lacerating your flesh, allowing you to truly put your best foot forward, whether in thongs, espadrilles or huaraches.
Never go out in a pair of brand-new shoes or sandals. Break them in for at least a day around the house. And wear socks with them while you're doing it.
The socks provide a buffer between your footwear and your skin.
Such a dress rehearsal will also point out any potential trouble spots where friction could do its dirty work. This will tell you where to use something like a protective lotion, bandages or moleskin with gauze.
You can also buy products with gel pads or cushions, which can be used on blisters, or as a means of avoiding getting any.
Got a blister threat already in progress? Use some baby powder or petroleum jelly.
If you can resist the temptation to pop a blister, it will heal better. You will have less of a risk for infection.
If it's just too big for words, and makes walking difficult or impossible, puncture the blister. But do so carefully.
Wash hands and blister with soap and warm water. Apply rubbing alcohol or iodine.
Wipe a needle with rubbing alcohol, then pierce the blister. Keep the skin on top intact. Put antibiotic ointment on the drained blister, and put on a gauze pad or bandage.
Sources:
Feet Blisters- How To Treat And Avoid Them. Womenshealthmag.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/how-to-avoid-blisters-with-sandals
4 Ways To Keep Your Feet Blister-Free This Summer. Bellasugar.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
http://www.bellasugar.com/How-Prevent-Blisters-From-Forming-Feet-8634275
Blisters: First aid. Mayoclinic.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-blisters/WL00008
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