Here are ways to prevent friction blisters, according to Glenn B. Gastwirth, D.P.M., Deputy Executive Director of the American Podiatric Medical Association in Bethesda, Maryland:

Buy shoes in the afternoon. “Over the course of  the day, your feet may swell by as much as half a shoe size,” says Gastwirth. When trying on shoes, wear the same type of socks that you plan to use with the shoes.

Look for leather. Unlike nonporous vinyl and plastic materials, leather has microscopic pores that allow air to circulate, keeping the foot drier. In the same way, so do the clusters of perforated holes primarily found on many styles of sports footwear. A dry foot is less likely to develop blisters.

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A blister is your body’s way of telling you that skin and tissues are being injured. So while you take steps to relieve the discomfort, you also need to protect the injured area.

Make a tent. Instead of simply placing an adhesive bandage right on top of the blister, “tent” the bandage by bringing in its sides so the padding in the middle of the bandage raises up a bit. “This will not only protect the blister but allow air to circulate, which will aid in healing,” says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Use a double-duty bandage. Another type of bandage, available in pharmacies, contains a gel and antiseptic to cushion and “clean” the blister, says Wilma Bergfeld, M.D., head of clinical research in the Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. Ask your pharmacist about it.

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You just couldn’t resist a bargain. Those shoes looked great with your new outfit, even if they didn’t feel so great on your feet. “They’ll stretch out,” you told yourself, and then patted yourself on the back for getting such a good deal. Unfortunately, you got more than you bargained for—namely, painful blisters to go with your new shoes.

Blisters are tender spots that fill up with fluid released by tiny blood vessels in an area where delicate skin tissues have been burned, pinched, or just plain irritated. Virtually everyone has experienced friction blisters, the kind caused by hot, sweaty, or ill-fitting shoes. If you have one now, read on to find out how to take care of it. Then continue reading to learn how you can help protect your tender tootsies in the future.

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