Prevention is a lot better than treatment…….

That’s the message from our partners at Pellitec and they certainly know a thing or two about the walkers nemesis, the pesky blister which are more likely to occur in the heat of summer.

Blisters are the most common form of foot injury and one of the easiest to prevent. Many people find their solution in well fitting footwear some in moisture wicking socks whilst others condition their feet to prevent a build up of callus on the sole and heel.

What ever works for you it is worth considering why blisters form in the first place. It is commonly thought that blisters are caused by the outer layers of your skin continually rubbing against a rough surface like the inside of a walking boot. If only it was so easy. Blisters form because the layers of your skin are moving in a different direction to the bones of the foot. This causes skin layers to separate, fill with fluid and leads to a painful blister. A useful tip is not to burst a blister as your risk of infection is greatly increased. Let the blister settle down and if the top comes off then cover with a plaster.

Prevention is a lot better than treatment in this instance. If you are one of the large group of people who dash off to the chemists prior to a walk to stock up on the traditional ‘stick on skin’ products then please think again. These products are fine at treatment but don’t have the durability to prevent blister causing friction. They can also roll up and be difficult to remove as the blister heals.

Try and focus on the three main causes of blisters – pressure, heat and moisture. We have designed PelliTec blister prevention pads to stick to the inside of your footwear not on your skin. The top layer of the pad cushions and wicks away moisture whilst the gel core moves with your foot to prevent the friction which causes blisters. The circular pads can be placed anywhere inside your footwear and last around three months in normal use. They are used by walkers, runners, sports players all round the world.

Now you have your blisters sorted turn your mind to having ‘summer ready’ feet. In warmer weather the feet can swell as your body triggers mechanisms to keep a regulated temperature. When the body is too hot, veins dilate in an attempt to help the body cool. When this happens it can occasionally cause fluid leakage into surrounding tissue and if the body is unable to recirculate the fluid, it starts to pool leading to swelling. This is a particular problem for your feet as they are already working against gravity pumping blood back to the heart, and if they are struggling it can lead to swelling.

The good news is this can be easily prevented by making small changes to your lifestyle. Reducing salt intake, making healthier meal choices and exercising more frequently all help circulation be more efficient, reducing the risk of fluid accumulation. This can also be helped by wearing compression hosiery to apply gradual pressure to the calf and ankle, helping the blood to be pumped back to the heart effectively.

Check out the WALX guide to staying cool and comfortable too HERE

We hope you find this article useful. PelliTec blister prevention pads are available to buy from the WALX shop HERE

Visit the Pellitec website HERE