Competitions and tournaments are coming to an end and our football boots (and sports equipment in general) are at their limit. Many are already thinking about preparing for the dreaded pre-season with all that this entails. New football boots, new running shoes, fatigue after hard training sessions in unbearable heat... Putting all these factors together in a blender, the result is the appearance of our least welcome surprise guests: BLISTERS and SORES.
CHAFING AND BLISTERS
Chafing occurs when a particular area of the body becomes irritated, leading to a wound. Chafing can occur in different areas, such as the armpits, nipples or crotch, and if friction continues, it is usual for a blister to form, i.e. it becomes inflamed and fills with liquid, a defence mechanism of the body to protect the skin and speed up recovery. In this post we will deal only and exclusively with those that occur on the feet, although it is true that some of the tips we will give below can be applied to the other areas mentioned above.
SHOES AND SOCKS
We could clearly differentiate between these two concepts, but the combination of these two factors will be decisive and almost infallible against blisters. Choosing the right size of your football boots will be the most important point, as buying them short, long, narrow or wide, will make the foot uncomfortable and cause friction or rubbing. A little trick to prevent this from happening is to take a double sock with you when you go to your Futbol Emotion shop to buy the boot and try it on. This way, you will avoid the hypothetical situation of a swollen foot. In matches or training sessions, wearing appropriate socks is very important, as they perform essential functions: acting as a protector between the football boot and the skin, transcendental in perspiration, with the technologies implemented by each brand, in view of the fact that excess moisture due to sweating can soften the skin and predisposes to the appearance of blisters. Finally, football socks aim to fix the foot to the insole by giving it more grip, thanks to their silicone thread or their gel injections on the sole of the foot.
SKINCARE PRODUCTS
When the skin is subject to repeated friction forces, epidermal cell renewal is faster, and the outermost layer of the skin becomes thicker, thus protecting against blisters. Experience and routine are a basic factor in reducing the number of blisters, although in many cases, prior preparation with a good material does not prevent chafing, so we can anticipate this by using various products.
The use of antiperspirants, with moderate use, keeps our feet dry, as the lack of perspiration means that the foot keeps the friction of the skin low, a consequence of blister protection. On the other hand, the use of Vaseline, the product most used by the majority of sportsmen, acts as a protective barrier between the football boot and the sock. In this case, it is important to know that this product should be used in the areas of friction that are most affected, as it can sometimes cause the foot to slip inside the sock and the boot. To finish with the products and tips that we recommend, bandages will also be our allies in specific moments, such as the famous dressings and tapes. Always make sure your skin is dry and warm them slightly with your hands, so that they adapt better and there are no folds - lest the remedy be worse than the disease.
We hope you finish your season in the best possible way, and that preparation for the next one will be much better. Of course, don't forget to leave your thoughts either in the comments section or on our social media.
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