Gel Heel Protectors, Clear

Product Information

After 2-5 days a new layer of skin grows and the bubble of fluid is reabsorbed into the body, after which the skin that contained the bubble dries up and peels off. While I very much appreciate the beauty in some objet d’art pulled from a posh clutch and used to paint a mouth at a restaurant table, it’s the prosaic problem-solvers that excite me most. It looks a bit like a big lip salve and works like a Pritt Stick where you rotate the bottom and the material pops out of the top.

The best course of action is to take steps to reduce the possibility of getting them in the first place, but if you do end up getting one or two the following products should help no end. Other signs of an infection are pus under the bubble which is often accompanied by a foul smell, and considerable pain and swelling.

Well, they don’t last forever so they’ll need replacing every couple of months, and if you get new boots or shoes you’ll have to get more blisters to know where you need to stick them.

Think of the heel part of a sock that’s made from silicon but with little holes punched in to allow air to circulate. Remember that the fluid that fills the blister bubble keeps infection at bay, so popping it yourself will prevent your body’s natural protection and you could introduce bacteria into the wound. That plea might give you an indication to how highly I rate this product and I’d place them higher in this list if they were actually sold as blister prevention, but they’re actually designed for alleviating the pain of plantar fasciitis, and blister prevention is something I inadvertently stumbled upon.

However, if you’re going to cover your feet with socks and walking boots they’re a great anti-blister option and they work out much cheaper than Compeed patches. The fluid acts like a bandage, preventing bacteria from entering the wound and reducing the risk of infection. My advice for applying them is to first make sure your feet are completely dry and then really push them down hard once in position. If you feel localized heat in your foot when walking it’s usually the first indication that you’re about to get a blister. There are a number of products designed to prevent this protective bubble from bursting, but one of the most highly rated is Compeed blister patches which not only provide a sterile barrier on top of the blister but also cushion it from further abrasion by shoes and socks.

So that’s the process of getting a blister, which probably doesn’t sound all that bad if you’ve never suffered from them, but if you have you’ll know how painful they are and how much they can impact your walking adventures. They will also cover the blister with a protective ointment and cover the wound with a dressing which will help prevent bacteria from entering it.

The fissures stopped bleeding within a day, had fused shut within about 36 hours, and healed completely within four days, leaving only a little residual flaky skin as evidence. Having used talcum powder (whenever I can be bothered to find the bottle) I can confirm it definitely helps. You wear them all day, hand-washing with soap and water between wearings, and the immediate difference they make to foot discomfort – and soon after to deep, bleeding skin cracks – is nothing short of miraculous. Unfortunately, the best way to find this out is actually get a blister so you can then take the insole out and position your foot on it to see where the patch has to go. He lives near Edinburgh and spends his free time exploring Scotland and writing about his experiences.

Problems occur when the bubble bursts and all the lovely, gooey liquid seeps out leaving the exposed and undeveloped new skin vulnerable to all manner of airborne nasties. Stick a Compeed patch on your heel, rub Compeed anti-blister stick on your toes, and pull these socks on to virtually guarantee blister-free walks. You then just rub it all over the parts of your feet that are prone to getting blisters, with the Compeed stick acting as a barrier between your skin and anything abrasive. If you feel the blister needs to be drained consult with your GP who will be able to release the fluid with a sterilized needle while keeping as much of the skin intact as possible.Over extended durations, the friction caused by this movement creates a rupture between the outer layers of the epidermis which then forms a pocket of separated skin layers that fills with a plasma-like fluid from the surrounding tissues. If you like to sprinkle talcum powder over your feet they’ll come off in about 30 seconds so bear that in mind, and they tend to crinkle when applied to the heel, but they’re fantastic for the metatarsal area (the bit behind your toes). The socks make your skin wrinkle as if you have had an overlong bath, but also keep it moist, flexible and very much on the mend.