By Jayden Mark
Work boots provide a lot of extra protection for difficult and extensive jobs. However, you may develop blisters on your feet from a new or even a well-worn set of work boots. These blisters may just seem like part of your job and something you have to put up with every day. But that doesn't have to be the case! You can prevent blisters on your foot and provide yourself with the relief that you need.
7 Steps to Prevent Foot Blisters
Step One: Check Your Boot Size
Did you buy an off-the-rack work boot from Walmart or a similar supermarket? If so, your boots may not be a proper fit for you. For example, if you find that your feet move too much or feel too tight on your feet, they are not correctly sized. Avoid this mistake by getting rid of your old boots and getting fitted.
Find a shoe store near you that does measured fits for work boots. They'll carefully find the best fit for your foot and make sure that they don't cause blisters. After you've been fit for a personalized pair of work boots, you're not likely to ever go back to off-the-rack boot options again.
You are going to pay more for your specially fitted boots. However, they'll not only fit you better and minimize blister risks but last much longer. If you still get blisters even with fitted boots, you may need to clean out your boots regularly to minimize friction while you work.
Step Two: Clean Your Boots Regularly
When you're working on a job site, you may be moving through dirt, sand, and other gritty areas. Unfortunately, these materials have a terrible way of getting into your boots and even into your socks. And those tiny particles can cause a lot of aggravation as you work and cause severe blisters on your feet.
Check your boots for any apparent holes where dirt and sand may enter. If you find them, get your boots repaired at the shoe store by patching them up. Once the boot is patched, you may also need to lace them up carefully at the top to minimize the risk of dirt or sand getting inside.
It's also a good idea to take a break to remove your boots and empty them out if you notice any annoying sand or dirt in your boot as you work. Then, when you get home, empty them out and place them outside down to make sure that the sand and dirt fall out as much as possible.
Step Three: Wear Thicker Socks
Thick socks can do wonders for blisters by preventing the friction that would otherwise occur. Unfortunately, thinner socks typically don't provide enough padding, particularly if you have more sensitive skin. Nevertheless, upgrading your socks is one of the least expensive and easiest ways to prevent blisters from work boots.
You should be able to find reasonably thick work socks at most shoe stores or supermarkets. These socks may make your feet quite hot, though, especially in summer. And heat can be a problem for blisters with work boots because you may sweat and cause more friction between the materials.
Therefore, a good balance is important to consider here. For example, some people may find that two pairs of socks work very well. However, you might find this constricts your foot and makes it hard to work. Experiment with a few choices here to get the right balance for your needs.
Step Four: Tape Up Sensitive Areas
If you have sensitive areas on your feet that tend to blister (or if you already have a blister), you need to tape up the foot to make sure it doesn't get worse. Even if you switch to a new boot, working without tape is going to aggravate the blister and potentially worsen it very quickly.
Start out by identifying the blistered area and carefully sanitizing it with appropriate cleaning options. Then, it would be best if you placed a gauze on the blistered area and carefully tape it up. Doing so helps to add an extra layer of protection and minimizes rubbing and skin loss on the sensitive blistered area.
With the thicker socks, this tape should provide you with the protection that you need to stop blisters from worsening. Make sure to change your tape every day before you go to work and take a break to check it once or twice as you work to make sure it doesn't work loose.
Step Five: Buy Special Medical Insoles
Some people may have feet that need extra support or have a shape that simply makes blisters more likely. This problem is particularly common with work boots because they are so rigid and firm, meaning that they don't have a lot of give when you're wearing and using them.
Visit your doctor to see if you may need a specialized insole or insert that helps to support your foot more easily. These unique insoles or inserts can go along the inside of your boot and ensure that blisters don't occur while you work. Some may even be permanently installed inside.
This type of therapy is common for people with fallen arches or other types of common foot-related problems. In some cases, your podiatrist may be able to work directly with your boot provider to create a specialized boot that minimizes blisters and provides maximum support.
Step Six: Consider Foot Powders
When you wear your work boots for an entire workday, there's a good chance that the skin will dry out. Unfortunately, dry skin is more likely to blister than moisturized options. As a result, it is a good idea to throw some powder on your feet before you put on your socks and your boots.
Powder helps to keep the skin on your feet properly moisturized. You won't notice a liquid on your foot, per se, but the skin will stay healthy and suffer minimal drying. As a result, any friction that you might experience won't be as likely to cause blisters on your feet.
What happens if you do get a blister in spite of all of these steps? First, you need to take care of it right away to minimize complications. Unfortunately, infections may occur if you don't properly manage this problem. Thankfully, a few simple treatment methods can help to keep your feet free from blisters.
Step Seven: Treat Blisters As They Occur
If you develop blisters, make sure that you apply an antibiotic cream every day before you go to work. An infected blister can worsen and spread rapidly to other areas of your foot. It would be best if you also cleaned the area with hot soap and water before adding the cream to your foot every day.
If possible, try to avoid putting excessive weight on that area of your foot as you work. However, you shouldn't try to walk unevenly, either, as this might cause blisters on other parts of the foot. Instead, keep your weight balanced evenly, and you should minimize this risk more.
If necessary, visit with your doctor to treat any infections. You may also want to get a weight distribution test for your feet to see how you stand. Thankfully, consciously correcting your balance here can help to avoid excessive pressure on areas that you tend to favor as you work.
Keep Your Feet Safe
Perform these steps whenever you develop blisters from work boots, and you should eliminate them entirely. You don't have to do every single step here if one works better for you. For example, some people may find that a brand-new pair of fitted boots eliminate their blisters for good. Only move on to the more hands-on processes if you find that new boots do not provide you with relief.
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