Are your shoes causing blisters on the back of your heel? If so we understand your pain. There is nothing worse than suffering from painful blisters caused due to friction on your heels. They are painful, prevent you from walking very far and look unsightly so what can you do to make a difference?
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Why Do I keep on Getting Blisters on the Back of My Heels?
The fact is that heel blisters that are created when your shoes rub happen for a number of different reasons. In this post, we are going to explain exactly why you may be prone to painful blisters and what you can do to help prevent them from happening and heal your skin.
We know that the vast majority of problems with heel blisters starts when people buy a pair of new shoes. New shoes are problematic because they tend to have less flexibility in them than shoes that have been worn and that stiffness can increase friction levels. When most shoes have been worn in this problem lessens but by then you may have already caused some damage to your skin and might be reluctant to wear the painful shoes on your feet.
So what can you do to select shoes that will prevent this from happening?
How to Stop Heel Blisters – Check Your Shoe Fit
When you are buying shoes the first thing to do is to make sure that you are spending time trying on shoes and making sure they are fit for your purpose. Choosing the right shoes from the beginning can help you with blister prevention.
Make sure your shoes fit correctly and aren’t too loose or too tight. Make sure that when you are wearing them around the shop they feel perfectly comfortable from the start. If you get a hint that they are uncomfortable choose a different pair.
Remember to try the shoes on when your feet have expanded for the day. This means shopping in the afternoon when you have already been standing on your feet. This ensures that you are more likely to get a better fit.
Back of Heel Blister Prevention – Look At The Type of Shoe You Are Wearing
Next, if you want to prevent friction blisters look at the design and material of the shoes that you are thinking of buying.
Man-made synthetic shoes are less likely to allow your feet to breathe causing sweaty feet. Hard leather shoes which are stiff and inflexible can also be problematic. Try and make sure the shoes that you try on have some flexibility and movement in them.
Also think about the design of the shoe, heel height and the purpose of the shoes. High heels for example may look great but they aren’t necessarily going to be suitable if you are going to be doing a lot of walking.
Choose your shoes for comfort and spend a little extra money to get the best fit to avoid painful mistakes further down the line.
Shoes Rubbing the Back of Your Ankle – Think About Moisture
Preventing blisters can be more problematic if you suffer from sweaty feet. Too much moisture is going to cause friction and also not help when it comes to other issues such as fungal infections.
If you are prone to sweaty feet then using products to keep your feet dry and feeling fresh can go a long way to resolving the problem. Make sure that you wash your feet regularly and thoroughly dry them before wearing shoes. Use foot powder in your shoes to prevent moisture and choose breathable materials when you are purchasing new shoes to help prevent friction from moisture.
Raw Heels From Your Shoes? – Look for Rough Edges
Some shoe designs may look great but in practice, they are going to create foot blisters. In particular look for shoes that might have rough edges, seams or design elements that could rub your foot.
Rough areas in a shoe change the fit and can create rubbing which then leads to painful skin as it blisters. Try and find shoes that have smooth edges near to where your foot fits into the shoe.
Blister on Your Achilles? – Look at Your Foot Shape
Shoes causing blisters on the back of your heel might not all be about your shoe but can also be caused by the shape of your foot. This is why choosing shoes that fit your foot shape is so important if you want to prevent foot blisters.
Whilst you may not be able to change the shape of your foot you can buy shoes that are more flexible so they fit your particular needs. You can also use inserts to help adjust the position of the back of the heel which can reduce friction or problem areas.
How to Break In Shoes that Rub Your Feet
If you have bought a new pair of shoes and want to prevent painful blisters then it makes sense to break in your shoes first to prevent the problem in the first place. A great way to do this is to start wearing the shoes indoors for small amounts of time so that you get used to wearing them.
Wearing thick socks can also help to expand those shoes so they don’t feel as tight. If you find that there are still tight areas in the shoes that are causing foot problems then think about buying shoe stretchers or heating the shoe with a hairdryer for a short period of time to help lessen their rigidity.
New pairs of shoes shouldn’t be worn at a time when you know that you need to stand on your feet for a long period of time or walk long distances.
Start Wearing Double Socks To Prevent Friction
Shoes causing blisters on the back of your heel can be problematic but there are some simple blister prevention strategies that you can use to keep your free pain-free.
Our first tip is not going to be suitable if you are wearing high-heeled or strappy shoes but it can be useful for flats or trainers. A really simple solution to the problem is wearing two pairs of socks at the same time.
Now, of course, your shoes have to be roomy enough to fit the double-layer socks but if they can it solves the issue of a common blister problem of friction.
When you have two pairs of socks on your feet the socks may rub against each other but you are less likely to experience pain on your heel or ankle.
Keep Your Feet Moisture Free To Stop Feet Sliding in Shoes
If you want to stop shoes causing blisters on the back of your heel think about sweat and moisture.
The right socks are also one way of keeping your feet moisture-free which is important if you want to prevent foot blisters. Too much moisture makes your feet slip and slide inside your shoes and increases the possibility of friction creating a problem. Moisture-wicking socks help to absorb unwanted moisture and keep your feet feeling dry.
As well as thinking about wearing socks there are plenty of other products that you can buy to help you reduce the rubbing on the skin. Foot deodorants such as Carpe Anti-Perspirant Foot Lotion can help reduce foot sweat even when someone has a problem with hyperhidrosis.
There are also plenty of foot powders that can help such as Natural Foot Powder which has rave reviews. Just sprinkle it inside your shoes to prevent blisters and keep your feet smelling fresh.
Use Heel Protectors To Prevent Foot Blisters
Another great device to stop shoes causing blisters on the back of your heel are heel protectors. Heel protectors are made from a breathable stretchy gel device that can be placed around the foot for cushioning and also to help prevent blisters.
Blisters develop because of rubbing and friction on the skin which then starts to become sore and painful. The heel protectors are a barrier that can help to protect the skin and prevent rubbing.
Whilst they may help stop heel blisters they are not perfect. Aesthetically they don’t look great and so you probably would need to wear a pair of socks to hide the design. They can also make your feel sweaty which is also not particularly appealing.
Most people wear them for short periods of time just when they are first wearing in their shoes and then discard them when they are no longer necessary.
Use Heel Grips to Protect Your Heels and Ankles
If you do find that you are prone to foot blisters and want to stop them from occurring you might want to think about using heel grips. Whilst heel grips are not specially designed for blister protection they are great for reducing friction on shoes that are slightly larger than they should be.
Shoes with too much extra space at the back of your foot are going to move up and down and that is a problem if you are looking to prevent blisters. Heel grips help to lessen the gap so that your foot is held more firmly in your shoe so that the rubbing stops.
There are plenty of different heel grips that you can buy but the most popular type just fit into the back of your shoe. If you need something larger some companies make them with padding for the heel as well or they are created as a full shoe insert with a heel section.
Use Foot Glide To Reduce Friction
If you want to know how to stop shoes causing blisters on the back of your heel then you need to understand more about friction. Believe it or not, heel blisters can also be caused by the wrong type of rubbing or friction. Whilst some kinds of friction are smooth and don’t break the skin on your heel other types do the opposite and create a painful blister. This means that sometimes the best solution is to find a product that allows your foot to move around without tearing any skin.
It is worth noting that if you are wearing the same shoes or sandals all day you will probably need to reapply the product at intervals for more protection.
Buy a Pair of Insoles
To Protect Your Skin
Wearing a pair of insoles in your shoes can also act as an effective blister treatment. This is because the right insoles can adjust the positioning of your foot inside your shoes preventing foot blisters.
Some people choose to add a simple insert into the shoe but you may need an orthotic if you have other foot gait problems to stop any further blisters.
These heel insole cushions are a perfect example of a simple product that can help stop most heel blisters from forming. The base helps to lift and cushion the bottom of your foot and the tab at the back can be used to shield the skin on your ankle.
Wear Blister Cushions To Promote Healing
If you do end up with a foot blister because of ill-fitting shoes don’t despair as there are now some great solutions to help the problem on the market. We love blister cushions as they not only help repair the skin but protect it from further damage.
All-Health Hydrocolloid Blister Cushions help to reduce pain and allow your skin time to heal. This particular brand is specially designed to stick to your heel and not come off. There are of course plenty of other brands that you can use. If your blister cushion is going to be visible and not hidden behind socks or tights it is worth noting that many companies have created patches to match specific skin tones.
Just remember that it is important to seek medical care if you notice any signs of an infection. Having an infection means that you are likely to need specialist treatment such as an antibiotic ointment to help clear up the problem. A doctor may also place a sterile bandage on the area to help assist your skin with healing.
More Articles To Help Protect Your Feet
How to Stop Feet Sliding Forward in Heels
How to Stop Your Pinky Toes From Hurting in Shoes
Using Laser Treatment for Foot Pain
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