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How to Not Get Blisters

How to Prevent Blisters While Wearing Your Strappy Summer Sandals

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A minor modern tragedy: Shopper meets sandal. Shopper falls madly in love with said sandal. After scouring the internet, waiting for a sale, and making room in their closet, the shopper finally gets the shoes. The shopper tries them on, and the pair feel great — until it's one day later, and the promised sandals leave gnarly blisters. What to do?

We asked NYC dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman to reveal some tried-and-true blister prevention methods, plus some treatments if you've already got a few uninvited friends popping up on your heels. You may even have one of these treatments already living (er, growing) in your garden.

Image Source: Unsplash / Brina Blum

Powder Up

According to Dr. Jaliman, "Powder is something that minimizes friction between your foot and a sandal." The derm recommends dabbing 2Toms BlisterShield ($13) all over your feet. This waterproof formula protects against blisters, calluses, and hot spots, so you can go dance up a worry-free storm in your wedding-day Badgley Mischkas.

Image Source: Unsplash / Juja Han
2Toms BlisterShield
$13
from amazon.com
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Create a Barrier

"Moleskin makes a barrier between the skin and the sandal," Dr. Jaliman said. We're not talking about the trendy notebook — this is a woven cotton adhesive ($23). According to Dr. Jaliman, moleskin works well because "it is a very soft, padded material." You can cut and apply the patch over any problem areas you think might chafe, such as a sensitive part of your skin or the area on your foot that's right underneath an irritating shoe strap.

Image Source: Getty
woven cotton adhesive
$23
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Pick a Plant

If, despite your best efforts, you do get a blister, there are a few ways to speed up the recovery process and make everything less painful. For instance, you can reach for the classic DIY remedy for sunburns. "Aloe has anti-inflammatory properties, so it will reduce redness and swelling that cause pain and cool the area," Dr. Jaliman explained.

Image Source: Getty / PeopleImages

Seal the Deal

Hydrocolloid dressings such as DuoDerm ($29) are often used to treat bedsores, but they can also treat blisters. The thin, flexible patch has a special gel-like texture that absorbs bacteria and pus from a wound. This works great to cover irritated blisters that may bleed. According to Dr. Jaliman, "Since it's sheer, you can place it on a blister and continue using sandals without feeling that much discomfort." Along with helping to ease the pain, it also begins the healing process: "It will seal off the blister and promote faster healing."

Image Source: Getty / Images By Tang Ming Tung
DuoDerm
$29
from amazon.com
Buy Now

Bust Out the Tea Tin

Another unexpected DIY blister treatment is green tea. "This also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help heal the blister quickly," Dr. Jaliman said. All you have to do is brew two teabags in boiling water, soak a piece of gauze in the drink, and place it over your blister.

Image Source: Getty / RuslanDashinsky

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