Blisters - could a podiatrist help?

[nahthatsnotforme]

I’ve always had a real problem with blisters on my feet, no matter how careful I am with shoes, socks, creams etc. Trainers and walking boots can cause them even when previously fine.

I have a walking holiday planned for May. Last time I did one my feet were an awful mess, and so so painful (in well worn in boots).

so I’m trying to think ahead and wondered if I saw a podiatrist beforehand could they help? In preparing my skin really. I do think hard skin is my enemy.. I’ve had deep blisters under it which are agony even when I think I’ve done a good job!

Any advice from fellow walkers would be welcome

No idea about a podiatrist, but do you wear two pairs of socks? That's the only way I can reduce the chance of blisters.

I have tried 2 pairs of socks, in all sorts of combinations and I agree it does make some difference, just not enough

Merino wool socks help me a lot, two pairs. Never, ever cotton.

You can get "moleskin" to cover any hot spots early, which helps prevention, and once on a walking holiday with feet in dreadful condition a pharmacy assistant saved me by selling me large hydrocolloid dressing sheets, the same stuff compeed blister plasters are made from, but stickier and bigger, to be cut to size. They were a godsend and I always carry them with me now.

Hard skin is your friend though!
As a young climber, I hardened my feet by soaking them in surgical spirit. This was common practice. I believe ballerinas do it too.

My feet are the same, OP. I second the advice to use moleskin (Profeet make a nice soft version that sticks well) and Compeed-type dressings. For long runs I also pre-tape my toes and feet using zinc oxide tape, so that no skin is "exposed" in the areas where I get blisters.

In my experience, hard skin doesn't protect against blisters. It just causes blood blisters under the hard skin, or normal blisters of the skin immediately next to the hard skin.

I was told hard skin would protect me against blisters - it was a terrible lie.

I did the surgical spirit thing and I just got even deeper blisters under the hard skin.

Covering all usual blister sites with Compeed before even starting helps a lot.

I also suffer badly with blisters. The best thing I've found is to get reels of that sticky Elastoplast type tape and put it over the blister prone areas BEFORE any blisters start. I would put fresh on every day when using walking boots. I find this better than moleskin as it is more adhesive and less likely to come off when feet get sweaty.

@Snowjive2deep blisters are incredibly painful aren’t they. This is why I wondered whether a trip to a podiatrist might help avoid

them.. these ones I find particularly hard to prevent.

I'd def get some advice from a podiatrist. I am very, very prone to blisters and though Hilly double skin socks (wearing two pairs of socks doesn't do anything for me, but the double skin are amazing) work beautifully along with bodyglide between my toes on a long walk, part of my essential problem is my hypermobile feet (as it turns out after seeing a podiatrist about a different problem) which deform as I walk and rub themselves on the shoes iyswim. Really good custom insoles are making a huge difference to my comfort overall

You need to put the blister plasters on before every walk - I’m awful for getting blisters and it’s the only thing that’s ever made a noticeable difference.

It may also be worth getting your shoes professionally fitted if you can.

I don't know whether a podiatrist could help, OP. I visited one for help with Achilles tendinitis (he didn't help much) but it didn't occur to me to ask about blisters. The precautions I take are the result of reading on runners' forums, and my own trial and error.

But yes, the deep blisters are the worst. I also get blisters on the underside of my little toes because I have very wide feet and the little toes get squashed under, and rubbed by, the next toes. Super-painful, but can be avoided by careful pre-taping.

Another trick - obviously an alternative to taping - is to slather your feet in lube before you walk or run. I've had decent results using Vaseline/Bodyglide/Squirrel Nut Butter but only on shorter runs (up to about 10km/6 miles). For longer excursions, my feet need tape. I suppose the lube sweats off on the longer runs.

If you do find a podiatrist who gives useful advice, please come back and share it!

Decathlon do a really good blister tape that is more stretchy than normal elastoplast plaster tape which I use. I find that compeed are also good but they do come off if you get sweaty and I find the edges roll up sometimes. It can work out quite expensive if you have to keep reapplying them.

As others have said, you need to put the protection on before the walk.