Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to Marie Claire. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Lube Job
Blisters are the result of too much friction. To avoid some
of that friction and prevent a blister, liberally rub Vaseline over your feet
for less friction-and therefore less chance of developing a friction blister.
Quit cotton.
Many cotton sweat socks don't offer the best protection
against blisters. In fact, sports podiatrists say that manmade acrylic socks
are best for preventing blisters. Cotton fiber becomes abrasive with repeated
use, and it also compresses and loses its shape and 'cushion' when wet. The shape of the sock is critical when
it's inside a shoe. So a sock that
loses its shape is just what your blister-vulnerable foot doesn't need.
Silk
Wearing a silk undersock can help prevent foot blisters and
relieve the pain once you get them, since silk is less damaging to the skin
than other fabrics.
Powder
Rubbing baby powder on your feet before any
blister-promoting activity is another good preventer. Some say you should make
powdering part of your daily routine. Like petroleum jelly, it helps reduce friction and eases glide.
New Shoes
Wear them for only 30 minutes at a time. It's all right to
wear the shoes several times a day, but only for 30 minutes--at least for the
first few days. So carry an extra pair of broken-in shoes in your handbag and
trade off a few times during the day.
Moleskin
Moleskin is the best preventive measure for the
blister-prone, and it's also great for relieving pain once the blister forms.
Cut the moleskin into a doughnut shape and place it over the blister (or the
area where you're prone to get it. The surrounding moleskin will absorb the
shock and friction that cause or aggravate blisters.
Heel Lift
Blisters on the back of your foot? Add a heel lift to
alleviate the rubbing.
Insole
To avoid blisters on the heel and other parts of the foot,
many doctors recommend a Spenco insole. These store-bought inserts cut down on
friction to prevent new blisters and help ease the pain of existing ones. Remember if you perspire too much,
you're more prone to getting blisters.
Epsom Salt
If you perspire a great deal you're more prone to getting
blisters. Soaking feet in Epsom
salts can help dry excessive sweating. Dissolve Epsom salts in warm water and
soak your feet for about five minutes at the end of the day. Then dry,
thoroughly.
Gel
Triple antibiotic ointments can eliminate bacterial
contamination after two applications. After applying the antibiotic, you should
cover the area with a gauze pad--but change that covering each time it gets wet
to avoid contamination.
And finally…the right way to pop blisters.
Some doctors say that leaving a blister alone will reduce
the risk of secondary infection. Others say that if a blister hurts, you should
prick it with a pin to drain the water or blood that builds up under the
"roof" of the skin. Draining it, they say, will ease the pain. Since blisters usually hurt, most folks
vote to pop--but often do it wrong and risk infection. So here's the proper
procedure. Never remove the top layer of skin. After pushing the fluid
to one end of the "bubble," prick the blister on the side containing
the fluid, using a pin that's been sterilized with alcohol, a lighted match or
boiling water. The pin should prick the blister horizontally, just above the
skin.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
-
Issa Rae Had the Hottest Hair Color at Paris Fashion Week
She’s the latest star to turn red.
By Sophia Rivka Vilensky
-
These Tom Ford Perfumes Will Get You So Many Compliments
Heads will turn, guaranteed.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
#ReadWithMC Readers Were Fascinated by Marisa Meltzer's 'Glossy'
"The way Weiss weaves the story of girl bosses, capitalism, and the toxic-ness behind the scenes is masterful..."
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
Senator Klobuchar: "Early Detection Saves Lives. It Saved Mine"
Senator and breast cancer survivor Amy Klobuchar is encouraging women not to put off preventative care any longer.
By Senator Amy Klobuchar
-
How Being a Plus-Size Nude Model Made Me Finally Love My Body
I'm plus size, but after I decided to pose nude for photos, I suddenly felt more body positive.
By Kelly Burch
-
I'm an Egg Donor. Why Was It So Difficult for Me to Tell People That?
Much like abortion, surrogacy, and IVF, becoming an egg donor was a reproductive choice that felt unfit for society’s standards of womanhood.
By Lauryn Chamberlain
-
The 20 Best Probiotics to Keep Your Gut in Check
Gut health = wealth.
By Julia Marzovilla
-
Simone Biles Is Out of the Team Final at the Tokyo Olympics
She withdrew from the event due to a medical issue, according to USA Gymnastics.
By Rachel Epstein
-
The Truth About Thigh Gaps
We're going to need you to stop right there.
By Kenny Thapoung
-
3 Women On What It’s Like Living With An “Invisible” Condition
Despite having no outward signs, they can be brutal on the body and the mind. Here’s how each woman deals with having illnesses others often don’t understand.
By Emily Shiffer
-
The High Price of Living With Chronic Pain
Three women open up about how their conditions impact their bodies—and their wallets.
By Alice Oglethorpe