Blisters? That socks.

Blisters – they can drive a person crazy. Athletes, particularly runners, will often think of blisters as a common problem, something that just comes with the territory. You may have seen runners covering their feet with Band-Aids or duct tape to prevent them from forming, or you may have gone to these measures yourself. Generally people will get blisters from a poorly fitting pair of shoes, or perhaps from another source; their socks.

That’s right – your socks may be giving you blisters. When we wear cotton socks to run in, or to walk around in all day, we are trapping a layer of moisture right up against our feet. Think about getting out of the shower and grabbing a cotton towel to pull all the water off of you. This is exactly what your socks are doing, only they hold that sweat right up against your feet. This increases the friction between the sock and the skin on your foot, which will increase the friction between the layers of skin on your foot. Over a period of time, a blister will form.

So how do we combat this problem? One way to prevent blisters from forming is by switching from a cotton sock to a sock made of moisture-wicking fibers. Many brands make socks specific to running or other activities. These socks are made to fit tight, and often have extra layers of padding in areas that are most sensitive to blister formation, like the heel and ball of the foot. The materials used may be synthetic materials, such as nylon, polypropelene, or acrylic, as well as natural fibers like merino wool. All of these non-cotton fibers have the ability to spread moisture out over a greater surface area. The greater the surface area, the easier the moisture can evaporate.

When it comes to moisture-wicking socks, there are lots of options. For natural fibers, brands such as SmartWool and Bridgedale use merino wool. A variety of synthetic materials are used by brands such as WrightSock, Under Armor, and Balega. DryMax socks use a double layer sock, transferring the friction normally seen between the foot and the sock to this layer. Many brands that make running shoes also make moisture-wicking socks, such as Nike, Brooks, Asics, Adidas, and Mizuno. When it comes to choosing moisture-wicking socks, the options are about as plentiful as the options of shoes! You can purchase these types of socks directily from out online store by clicking here!

So, if you have a problem with blisters, try changing your socks. With so many options, you can try a few different brands to see which ones will be your favorite. Ask around – maybe someone you know has a favorite brand of their own. But be careful, once you start wearing moisture-wicking socks, you may not ever go back to cotton!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com