Blister Causes & Prevention
The most common type of foot blister for most people is the friction blister. They are those pesky pockets of fluid that form on your foot in the upper layers of skin after too much stress and friction with your shoes. They are formed as the top layer of skin tears away from the tissues below, plasma-like fluid leaks from the cells and begins to fill the gap, cushioning the tissue from further damage.
Lern how to prevent a blister
Keep it comfortable
The first way you can help prevent them is by wearing comfortable, well-fitting shoes.
Be prepared
If you're anticipating a long day on your feet or breaking in new shoes, have an anti-blister stick handy.
Take Action
As soon as you feel a blister forming, immediately apply the stick to prevent further friction and irritation.
Running a marathon is a huge undertaking, and the long training period beforehand can often feel almost as gruelling as the event itself; most marathon training plans require between 12 and 20 weeks of dedicated preparation, all in the name of increasing your endurance.
Summer is always an inviting time of year to get outside and get active, but the same things that make it so appealing can also be an obstacle to success: the heat; the temptation to just kick back and lounge in the sunshine; or the myriad opportunities for barbecuing, pubbing and al fresco get-togethers.
Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world without blisters, where pain doesn’t take the shine off new shoes or sporting endeavor?
September is the perfect time to lace up your trainers, embrace the cooler weather, and take on a new challenge. If you’re looking to get more active, improve your fitness, or simply join a supportive community, parkrun is an excellent place to start. With events held every Saturday in parks across the UK, parkrun is a free, timed 5K that welcomes participants of all levels—from seasoned runners to complete beginners. Whether you’re walking, jogging, or running, the parkrun community is all about inclusion, fun, and encouragement.
As a parent, your life pretty much always feels like it’s jam-packed with activity. Between the school run, drop-offs for extracurricular activities, getting the food shopping done, and cooking the food shopping, it can be incredibly difficult to set aside any time in which to be active for your own benefit - or to set aside any time at all!
If you’ve taken part in parkrun before, you’ll already be well aware of the positive impact community running and its camaraderie can have on your fitness, mental wellbeing and social life. You’ll also be well aware of the less positive impact it can sometimes have on your feet.
Nothing takes the fun out of running like a blister on your foot – whether it’s causing a bit of discomfort with every stride, or hurting so much it becomes virtually impossible for you to continue running at all.
The most common type of foot blister for most people is the friction blister. They are those pesky pockets of fluid that form on your foot in the upper layers of skin after too much stress and friction with your shoes.
Blisters are the worst. They can pop up at any time and make every step you take a miserable experience. And while they may be little, they have the power to seriously disrupt your work, fitness, holiday or special event. Read on for our low-down on how to avoid blisters.
FAQ
Got questions? We’ve got you covered!
Blisters develop as a result of repeated friction and rubbing, often from tight or ill fitting shoes
Blisters are fluid filled lesions that develop in response to repeated friction on the skin. Open blisters can be very painful and take up to 7 days to heal (individual experiences may vary (individual experiences may vary.)
Blisters can take several days to heal. Treatments focus on protecting the blister from further friction. Apply a Compeed plaster to prevent further blistering and provide instant pain relief.
If you're wearing shoes that make you more prone to blisters protect your feet from rubbing and friction with Compeed Blister Plasters. You can also prevent blisters by wearing two pairs of thin socks when exercising. Be sure to read our full blister prevention advice.