About Her Lifestyle

The key to wearing light, new summer shoes is to know how to prevent blisters and to understand what can and cannot be done in sandals. There are quite a few preventative measures that can be taken so as to avoid maladies – the first example of this is the use of Vaseline when wearing footwear such as sandals or flip flops. As blisters occur through friction, Vaseline can act as a lubricant to help prevent this so it is advisable to use some particularly when wearing a new pair of shoes for the first time. The only worry here is that putting on too much Vaseline can result in burns as Vaseline can heat immensely under direct sun. A combination of sunscreen and Vaseline is therefore recommended although it is recommended that sunscreen for the toes should be cream rather than lotion.

If footwear has not already been bought then there are a few tips to follow to make sure a beach goer buys the right sandals. Quality is the key. Cheaper materials will rub the foot and cause friction and open up the potential for blisters. Similarly make sure your flip flops fit correctly – too tight will obviously rub, yet sandals that are too loose could cause similar problems as the toes feet will cling to areas to compensate for the extra space and press against the straps.

Although it may be tempting, having just bought them, to keep your new shoes on your feet at all times so as to get good value for money from your purchase this could in fact prove rather harmful! Sandals can often cause sweat and this too is a cause for blisters. When the body dehydrates, losing fluids through sweat, it becomes more susceptible to developing blisters (which usually occur on hot, moist areas). The simple solution is to remove the sandals whenever possible, such as when seated, and to not allow too much sweat to build up on your feet. The health benefit of this too is that by being aware of the fact that sandals should not be worn at all times it is also possible to not get carried away and to do activities in them that could further exacerbate any damage to the feet, legs or back. Running or jogging in sandals or flip flops, or taking part in sports like beach volleyball, is dangerous in that sandals do not provide the same levels of support that trainers and sports shoes do and can damage knees and ligaments. Similarly, physical exertion is likely to cause sweat and rubbing which, as mentioned, are likely to bring about blisters.

Flip flops are incredibly comfortable but should be worn with care and, if possible, wearers should relax in them as much as possible. That’s what the summer is for though so why not enjoy?!

Kieron is a fashion writer who blogs regularly on the latest shoe trends and is looking forward to relaxing in his flip flops this summer.