How to Prevent Blister Under Toenail When Hiking

Imagine the hot sun beating down on your back, the weight of your backpack pulling on your shoulders, and a rock in your shoes that you can’t scratch. Suddenly, you feel a sting. You look down to find… a blister under your toenail while you are hiking.

That feeling is all too familiar for many hikers and people who do intense physical activity outdoors. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Blisters are a common problem for hikers, but there are some things you can do to prevent them. In this post, we’ll share three tips for preventing blister under your toenail when hiking, as well as what to do if you get one.

3 Ways to Prevent Blisters When Hiking

Wear Hiking Boots That Fit Well

When you’re in the outdoors, the weather can change at any time. It can be windy and unpleasant at night, while during the day it can be sunny and warm. Your feet need to be protected by a good pair of hiking boots in this kind of weather. This is vital to preventing blisters under toenail, as damp or sweaty feet are more prone to getting one.

When choosing hiking boots, it’s important that you find the pair that are right for you. If possible, go to a specialist store and try on several different pairs of hiking shoes before you buy them. Make sure they fit your feet properly.

Also, make sure the boots are compatible with your socks. Wear the same socks when taking a test walk as you would when hiking outdoors. The majority of blisters in sports shoes come from poor fitting or incompatible socks (or no socks at all).

Choose the Right Socks

Properly fitted hiking socks will reduce friction and rubbing, which both help prevent blisters under toenail. The sock should be snug but not tight. If it slides around, it’s too big. It’s also important to choose the right type of sock material.

Wool, cotton, and synthetic socks work the best for hiking. They have a good grip on your feet, which reduces friction and wear. If you’re just starting out, cotton is the best option for beginners as it gives more cushioning than wool.

Break in Your Hiking Boots Before Hitting the Trail

Start walking in your new hiking boots a few days before you take your first trip. Wear them around your house or while doing chores. When you start going on actual hikes, wear the same shoes that you’ll be wearing on the trail. If the shoes are comfortable to wear around home, they’ll be perfect for hiking!

If you’re not used to wearing hiking boots, be careful not to go for longer distances than usual until you build up your strength. It’s not uncommon to experience discomfort during the first couple of outings.

Remember, there are many different types of hiking boots and they can vary in price, protection level, and comfort. Make sure you have a comfortable pair before you go hiking!

What to Do if Blister Under Your Toenail While Hiking

Remove the Blister

When a blister under toenail occurs, it can be a bit painful. And it’s also very slippery. You don’t want to step on one again!

To make this process as easy as possible, first use your sleeve to clean the inside of the blister and all around it. Then take a toothpick and gently scratch around the top of the blister using a circular motion. If you have time during or after your hike, you can use tweezers to remove any debris from inside your shoe.

Cover It with a Bandage

After cleaning the blister, apply a bandage to help protect it from further irritation. Be sure to use a bandage that is big enough to cover the entire blister. You may also want to put a piece of moleskin under the bandage to help prevent friction. You can then go hiking again as usual. If you’re a more regular hiker, we recommend protecting your feet with special blister pads or socks that are made just for this purpose. This way, you have an extra layer of protection against getting one again.

Prevent the Blister from Coming Back

If you can’t get a blister to heal, there may be a small piece of debris still in your shoe. To prevent future blisters or irritation, use tweezers to remove any leftover material from inside your shoe and do a final cleaning with a disinfecting bandage. Then clean it again using soap and water and let it dry before putting on new socks.

You can also add a thin layer of petroleum jelly to help prevent the blister from coming back. This is especially useful since blisters can often be caused by sweat and the feet rubbing together when hiking.

If you get a blister while hiking, don’t worry! A blister doesn’t have to stop you from going on hikes and doing your favorite outdoor activities. Just take these tips into consideration before heading out to the trails, and you’ll be back on track in no time.

How to Treat Blisters After Hiking

While these tips are extremely helpful when it comes to preventing blisters, they aren’t always enough. In some cases, a blister can occur in the middle of your hike. Once you’re off the trail and back at camp, it’s time to take care of those blisters! Here’s what you need to do:

Clean the Blister

Once you’re out of the woods, take your camping shoes off and walk around with your hands or a stick to sample camp. You’ll want to clean any dirt or debris out of the blister so that it’s ready to be properly treated.

Wash your feet and any other wounds with soap and water. Then dry them off with a clean towel. If any skin is loose around the blister, pucker the area up and use tweezers to remove hair and small pieces of skin from around it.

Apply a Bandage

If the blister is small and not too painful, you can simply cover it with a Band-Aid or moleskin pad. If it’s bigger or more painful, you’ll want to use a sterile adhesive bandage or gauze pad held in place with medical tape.

Once the bandage is made, use tweezers to remove any remaining pieces of dirt or debris from around the edge of the blister. Then, cover the wound with a bandage and tape it in place. Make sure the area is completely dry before taping it up, since this can be very painful if the bandage sticks to wet skin.

Be sure not to wrap too tightly, as this could cut off circulation and make the pain worse. Leave the bandage in place for 24 hours, then remove it and let the area air out for another 24 hours before re-bandaging if needed.

Take Care of Your Feet While They Heal

Wear socks that fit well and aren’t too tight anywhere around your foot or ankle (this could put extra pressure on blisters and cause them to form). Choose shoes that have plenty of room in them so your feet don’t rub against anything while they’re healing up-consider going up half a size if necessary. Finally, soak your feet in cool water for 10-15 minutes every day to help reduce swelling and accelerate healing!

Once your blisters are healed, you can get back to hiking and enjoying the great outdoors. And to avoid getting blisters at all, be sure to follow these tips on how to buy hiking boots. They’re an essential part of any hiker’s gear!

What Causes Blisters?

A blister can occur in a number of ways. If you’ve just discovered a hot spot or callus on your foot, there’s a good chance that it could become a blister if you continue hiking. But sometimes, you can even get a blister after a nice trip to the pool or the beach.

Although it’s not unusual to experience a blister while hiking, they won’t happen every single time. In some cases, you’ll start hiking and something will suddenly rub against your foot or toes. In other cases, you may notice blisters forming after you’ve been doing something that has caused irritation for a while. For example, you might form a blister if you have been wearing ill-fitting shoes or have unhealed cuts on your feet.

What Causes Blisters While Hiking?

There are a variety of causes for blisters while hiking. These can include:

Sweaty socks that don’t fit properly, leading to friction. Since you may be very athletic when you’re hiking, this can lead to sweat and intense rubbing against the skin of your foot inside your shoe.

That doesn’t fit properly, leading to friction. Since you may be very athletic when you’re hiking, this can lead to sweat and intense rubbing against the skin of your foot inside your shoe. Inadequate footwear If your shoes aren’t designed to support the weight of being on your feet all day, they could cause blisters.

If your shoes aren’t designed to support the weight of being on your feet all day, they could cause blisters. Unhealed cuts and scrapes. These can cause blisters to form over time. For example, if you have a long, deep cut on your foot or a scrape between your toes, it can keep rubbing against the skin inside your shoe when you’re hiking or climbing.

Conclusion

So, there you have it, three ways to prevent blisters when hiking and what to do if you unfortunately get one. By following these tips, you can hike worry-free and enjoy the beautiful scenery without having to worry about painful blisters. So, get out there and explore!