Gel Heel Protectors, Clear

Product Information

Second, they contain a special hydrocolloid gel (which provides moistness) to encourage new skin growth and I have to say whenever I’ve had a blister they always seem to heal faster in a Compeed patch than when I just leave them open to the air, admittedly because whenever I do that the fluid bubble inevitably pops too early. Third, I’ve now learnt that by placing these patches on my heel before I go for a walk I never get heel blisters in the first place, which my beloved Berghaus boots (link to my review) are prone to giving me. Sure, it means spending an extra couple of quid each time I go for a long walk, but they stay on for up to a week meaning one pair could last an entire holiday. Before doing any prodding and poking make sure your hands are thoroughly cleaned with soap and water and preferably give them an additional rinse with antibacterial gel. That being said, they won’t peel off like plasters and they won’t wear off like anti-blister creams and powders, and they also provide cushioning if you tend to put a lot of impact pressure on your heels. Other signs of an infection are pus under the bubble which is often accompanied by a foul smell, and considerable pain and swelling. If you experience any of these symptoms you must consult with your doctor as soon as possible.

There are a couple of downsides though. First, these plasters aren’t designed for use after you get a blister so there’s no cushioning or sterile pad like you get with Compeed. Each patch has a hard-wearing but very smooth coating so your foot doesn’t suffer from shear friction which is the biggest cause of foot blisters. With your clean hands gently feel around the area and look for any signs that the skin bleeds when touched. You may also notice a degree of warmth around the blister and the skin might be peeling away. After 2-5 days a new layer of skin grows and the bubble of fluid is reabsorbed into the body, after which the skin that contained the bubble dries up and peels off. Strong adhesive - blister prevention tape leverages KT TAPE advanced adhesive technology, thin conformable material, and a rounded edged design to stay on skin for up to two daysHeel pain relief ✔ Help relieve severe heel pain and discomfort from your sore hurting heels, heel spur treatment, bone spurs, aching feet, aches, stress fractures, bruised, and sprained feet. They can even help with sharp extreme heel soreness and swollen ankles Getting blisters on your feet is one of the biggest annoyances you can have while visiting Scotland. It’s that last point that sees me purchasing new boxes of Ballotte heel protectors every month as they’re great to use with running shoes, but note that your feet will get a wee bit sweaty if you wear them all day and if you use them a lot they’ll start tearing after a week or so. If you like to expose your feet (high heels etc) you’ll be pleased to know Compeed patches are semitransparent so once applied they’re barely noticeable, and if you’re covering up a pre-existing blister they have a deep cushioning layer which allows you to get on with your day when you’d otherwise feel every touch against the exposed raw skin. Once in position though, you can say goodbye to blisters. In fact, they’re so effective I suspect shoe manufacturers will eventually start including something similar in the soles of all their shoes.

Before I discovered these things I was a firm believer in supermarket own-brand plasters mainly because plasters are so expensive and they all do the same job, right? FAST HEALING: hydrocolloid active gel technology creates an optimal healing environment for foot blisters Blisters will disappear on their own, usually within five days. The body’s first reaction is to cover the exposed separated skin with a sterile fluid which encourages new skin to grow. Remember that the fluid that fills the blister bubble keeps infection at bay, so popping it yourself will prevent your body’s natural protection and you could introduce bacteria into the wound. I write this having returned from a fantastic week in the Morar peninsula that was somewhat marred on the last day when my other half ended up with a couple of very painful blisters on her feet caused by ill-fitting shoes, as you can see in the photos above (no, they’re not my feet. Wrong colour nail polish).WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE & DISCREET: keeps natural moisture in and germs out, with translucent edges to help blend to the skin Blisters are a potential problem for anyone that enjoys hiking in Scotland as they can turn an enjoyable walk into a pain-filled nightmare. Unfortunately, the raw skin under this bubble of fluid can become very sore to the touch, and if the bubble bursts there is a chance it can become infected. Blisters are bubbles of fluid that form under the top layers of skin when excessive friction causes the layers to separate.

Spend the money and get the best pair you can afford and ensure the ball of the foot fits comfortably inside the widest part. So how do you know if a blister becomes infected? It’s sometimes difficult to notice the difference between an infected and uninfected one as even uninfected fluid bubbles can feel very sore and look red and inflamed, but there are a few tell-tale signs to be aware of. Thankfully though, there are several very effective products that you can use to protect your feet from the ravages of blisters, most of which prevent the rubbing from occurring by adding a barrier between the foot and the shoe. Problems occur when the bubble bursts and all the lovely, gooey liquid seeps out leaving the exposed and undeveloped new skin vulnerable to all manner of airborne nasties.

The best course of action is to take steps to reduce the possibility of getting them in the first place, but if you do end up getting one or two the following products should help no end.

It’s obvious that blisters can cause untold misery to walkers, not just for the immediate pain they cause but also for the potential infections that can occur if bacteria manages to get inside the exposed wound.If you feel the blister needs to be drained consult with your GP who will be able to release the fluid with a sterilized needle while keeping as much of the skin intact as possible. They will also cover the blister with a protective ointment and cover the wound with a dressing which will help prevent bacteria from entering it. To fit them, you have to position the patch exactly on your insole in the location where it rubs, which is easier said than done. Unfortunately, the best way to find this out is actually get a blister so you can then take the insole out and position your foot on it to see where the patch has to go. Well… no, they don’t, and my faith in cheapo plasters disappeared completely after a friend recommended Compeed which are superior in every possible way, which is why I now happily recommend them to everyone.