A new pair of shoes can surely turn your life around, but sometimes it can be for the worse. Everybody enjoys staying in vogue, whether it be clothes or matching the new trends in footwear. However, breaking into a fresh pair of shoes can be a task, especially when they are ill-fitted and give little or no space for the feet to breathe. The tight and suffocating walls of the shoes tend to rub against your feet, causing blisters that can even make you limp with excruciating pain. Shoe bites usually occur behind the ankles or near the toes. The friction between the shoe and the foot turns the skin into a callus or a rash.However painful a shoe-bite may be, there is nothing which home remedies cannot treat. You can ease the pain from the comfort of your bedroom and wake up to revived feet with minimal effort.
Here are some effective home remedies to treat those stubborn scars and shoe bites:
1. Toothpaste
Toothpaste can be quite effective to treat a shoe bite. It comprises menthol, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda – a combination that is a good healing agent.
How to Use:
Squeeze a pea-size quantity of the toothpaste and spread it evenly on the affected area. Let it stay for 30 minutes. You can also apply it overnight for a quick recovery. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
Make sure you’re using white toothpaste and not a gel-based one.
2. Ice Cubes
There is nothing quite like the soothing effect that ice cubes offer. They are not just easily available at home but also offer instant relief from shoe bites. They are anti-inflammatory and help in calming the swelling.
How to Use:
Take some ice and dab it on the affected area for quick relief. If you find it difficult or slippery to hold, wrap the ice cubes in a piece of cloth and then dab on the shoe bite.
3. Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline or petroleum jelly is invested with various healing properties that can treat the human skin instantly. If you are prone to shoe bites or planning to flaunt a new pair of shoes, it is advisable to keep a bottle of petroleum jelly handy.
How to Use:
Clean your feet with care and then apply a generous amount of petroleum jelly on the shoe bite. You can also apply it overnight to heal your foot faster.
Petroleum Jelly is also quite effective if applied on the insides of the shoe before wearing it. It is best applied overnight for complete absorption.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil mixed with a bit of camphor creates a combination that can heal the skin instantaneously and prevent further infection. It has analgesic properties and also contains lauric acid, which possesses antimicrobial characteristics.
How to Use:
Mix a few drops of coconut oil (preferably virgin coconut oil) with a tablespoon of camphor. Dab it softly on the callus or the scars to experience a cooling and healing sensation on the blister.
5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera plant is famous for boasting a variety of healing properties, which are also highly effective on shoe bites. It is also helpful in relieving the pain and reducing the scars caused by the blisters.
How to Use:
Squeeze some processed aloe vera gel or extract fresh gel from the plant by peeling the surface, and apply it on the blisters.
6. Rice Flour
Rice water has already taken the world by a storm with its highly reviving and rejuvenating qualities, and rice flour is no less. The rice flour paste is extremely effective in treating the scars and curing the skin.
How to Use:
Mix some rice flour with a few drops of water to make a paste-like consistency. Apply this formula to the affected area and wash it gently with lukewarm water when the paste hardens.
7. Honey
As surprising it may sound, honey is also used to treat a variety of skin problems. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that assist in reducing rashes and burning sensation.
How to Use:
Take a tablespoon of raw or organic honey and dab it with the help of a cotton ball on the callus or the rash to get immediate relief. Wash it gently with lukewarm water after some time.
8. Neem and Turmeric
Home remedies are rather incomplete without the inclusion of turmeric. The combination of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties boasted by both neem and turmeric work wonders on a shoe bite.
How to Use:
Blend a handful of neem leaves and a teaspoon of turmeric powder with the help of a few drops of water. Apply this paste on the affected area and leave it to dry. Gently wash it once hardened.
9. Olive Oil
Olive oil comprises bioactive compounds that are highly effective in reducing inflammation and burning sensation experienced around a shoe bite.
How to Use:
Mix two to three drops of olive oil with a drop or two of almond oil in a bowl. Apply this combination on the affected area two times a day for significant results.
10. Talcum Powder
As conventional as it may seem, talcum powder is highly effective in cases of shoe bites caused by excessive sweating and perspiration. In such a situation, it is highly advisable to keep your feet dry.
How to Use:
Splash some talcum powder on your feet to keep them fresh and dry. This will also help in reducing the friction between your shoes and feet.
These are some of the home remedies which are quite effective on shoe bites and offer immediate relief. Also, it is best to purchase a new pair of shoes after due diligence and proper trial. When you’re breaking into a new pair, it is advisable to keep a band-aid handy. You can even apply castor oil or petroleum jelly inside the shoes before wearing them for the first time.
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