Blisters and other party feet woes: How to prevent and treat them

It's the season of merry making, dancing, carousing and lots of walking.

And as you lot can already anticipate, it's the season of blisters, too, with the new shoes you lot're planning on wearing.

Simply it doesn't have to be about bruised from one party to some other, or breaking out your Birkies to save yourself from blisters, strained arches and other uncomfortable foot problems.

Here's a look at how you can aid yourself from the ankles down.

BLISTERS

These fluid-filled bumps are often the issue of pressure level, friction and moisture, so keeping a step ahead of blisters forming means keeping the trifecta under command.

Pressure control is nearly buying shoes that fit you – that is, not likewise narrow or short for your feet.

"If, upon trying the shoes, signs of irritation are already present, they are likely to persist," said Kuah Bao Peng, senior podiatrist with Changi Full general Hospital.

Earlier heading out, apply a body lotion, pes balm or even good ol' petroleum jelly onto potential hot spots on your feet to minimise friction.

If your feet tend to perspire a lot, wearing moisture-wicking socks is a good way to soak upwards the moisture.

Fun socks made of polyester (don't choose cotton) can also jazz up your outfit and provide a protective barrier for your feet, said Kuah.

UH-OH: You feel a hot spot threatening to plough into a full-diddled blister.

Even if you lot don't, check your feet regularly, said Kuah, especially when wearing new footwear, to monitor for signs of rubbing and irritation.

If you spot them, adjust your socks or shoes to shift the pressure.

Deport some infant powder and sprinkle information technology onto your anxiety if they experience damp. It's also the time to whip out your plasters.

But if it's as well late and blisters have already popped up, hither'south what Dr Lee Shan Xian, consultant dermatologist from Changi Full general Infirmary advised: "Small blisters should be left intact, and plasters can be applied over them to assist compress and disperse the fluid."

For large blisters, go ahead and burst them with a sterile needle after cleaning the expanse with an antiseptic.

Permit the fluid drain and apply a simple dressing, said Dr Lee. Only do not peel the pare off the top of the blister, he added, every bit it acts equally a natural barrier confronting irritation and infection.

(Photo: Unsplash/Charisse Kenion)

Blisters can accept up to two weeks to heal and during this time, go along a bandage on them, said Dr Lee.

Naturally, don't wear the same shoes that caused the blisters in the first place until they accept healed.

BURNING Feet

While heels are stylish and make women (and some men) feel tall and confident, they aren't skillful for condolement.

"High heels cause the foot to slide forwards, causing overloading at the brawl of the foot," said Kuah.

It gets worse if the shoe has a pointy toebox as the toes are squeezed into the narrow infinite.

Just if your festive outfit calls for heels, Kuah has these tips. For starters, choose heels with a round toebox to requite your forefoot some wiggle room.

Information technology is besides worth considering platform heels or wedges over stilettoes as anything with a narrow heel and midfoot pattern volition mean unstable steps, said Kuah.

To take some of the load off the balls of the feet, he recommended looking for heels with curvation support.

A bigger contact area between the arch of the shoe and the foot volition do the trick, he said.

Every bit for the perfect tiptop? "There is no scientific answer to this.

"Some women can go away with higher heels because their joints are more flexible, their forefoot is narrower or simply because they stick with platforms," said Dr Gowreeson Thevendran, consultant and specialist in orthopaedic surgery at Raffles Orthopaedic Centre.

UH-OH: You've lost rail of fourth dimension and your forefeet feel like they're on burn. This normally happens when your anxiety take been in heels for too long.

"Stick-on absorber or pads can help to improve the condolement," said Kuah.

"But ensure that there is adequate space at the toebox to adapt the thickness of these pads, or it could worsen the symptoms."

Or y'all could bring along a pair of flats to give your feet sweet relief while you're travelling or in-between events, said Dr Thevendran.

"Then, modify into your heels or pointy shoes when you brand an advent at the door."

(Photo: Unsplash/Bert Ferranco)

PAINFUL Human foot ARCHES

First, a biological science lesson: That ring connecting your heel to your forefoot is known as the plantar fascia.

And in individuals with apartment feet or tight dogie muscles (which runners and consequent heel-wearers oft take), information technology frequently gets tightened or inflamed.

"Keeping the calf muscles stretched and supple whilst doing regular plantar fascia stretching prevents the underlying tightness of the fascia.

In flat-footed individuals, curvation support orthotics is also useful," said Dr Thevendran.

Hither is one way to stretch out your plantar fascia.

UH-OH: If pain in your curvation does happen when yous're out and most, remove your shoes and try this: Sit down down and place your pes on your thigh.

Gently pull the toes of your propped foot dorsum until you feel a stretch in your arch, and hold for fifteen to thirty seconds.

Then, switch over to the other pes, said Kuah.

You lot can also perform the same stretch a few weeks earlier attending a party to go on your arch supple. Kuah brash doing the stretches 2 or iii times a day.

READ: Happy feet: 5 pairs of fantasy shoes that will brand you lot feel like Cinderella

CORNS

These hardened lumps of peel are "caused by the body's response to increased pressure or shearing forces on the feet," said Kuah.

"A corn is dissimilar from a callus as it consists of a key cadre of thickened skin. Calluses, on the other hand, consist of layers of thickened peel."

Other than to walk away from ill-fitting shoes, here'due south some other tip that may work every bit a stop-gap measure out: File down the layers of hard skin above the corn with a pumice stone or human foot file once a week afterward showering, and follow up with daily applications of moisturiser to help soften the skin, said Kuah.

"However, the thorough removal of a corn requires the utilize of a scalpel bract and this would require a visit to a podiatrist," he said.

UH-OH: Keep some protective padding for corns on yous for when your corns offset to hurt.

These tin can be a soft fabric with a sticky backing or come with a cushioned ring that fits effectually the corn to provide temporary relief.

The downside is, they tend to come off, said Dr Thevendran.

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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/blisters-and-other-party-feet-woes-232246

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