How Can I Avoid Shoe Bites?

You are excited to try on your new pair of shoes for the first time for a great night out on the town. After a couple of hours, you feel the familiar sensation of pain in your feet, and you know you have got yourself an annoying shoe bite. The good news is that there are a few simple ways to treat shoe bites without throwing away your new shoes! In this article, we explore the various causes and a few simple tips to avoid shoe bites from developing again!

What Is A Shoe Bite?

A shoe bite is the wear and tear of skin as a shoe rubs against your feet. This friction leads to blisters and swelling in your feet. It is more common with shoes that are tight or ill-fitting.

Shoe bites can be extremely uncomfortable and also cause pain. They often hurt more when you stand up or walk.

These usually occur behind your ankles or near your toes. They look like rashes or callusesⁱ  Thickened and hardened soft tissue that forms on parts of the skin exposed to prolonged rubbing or friction. . Sometimes, these calluses may even be filled with pus. In such cases, you must explore home remedies for corn and calluses, which help you get relief from this painful condition.

What Causes Shoe Bites?

Ill-fitting shoes are the primary cause of shoe bites. Generally, people tend to buy shoes without properly considering the dimensions of their feet. This can cause your feet to rub against the shoes. This, in turn, leads to swelling, blisters, and scars on your feet.

Sometimes, the sweat from your feet can also cause the shoes to rub against the skin, causing shoe bites.

Women are more susceptible to shoe bites than men as they tend to wear tight and narrow shoes that can leave blisters and scars on their feet. In addition to dealing with shoe bites, you might want to explore remedies for foot pain to ease discomfort after a long day on your feet.

Quick Tip

Stick bandaids to the areas prone to shoe bites, like the toes and at the back of your feet. This offers padding to protect your skin from friction and scraping.

The first measure you can take towards healing a shoe bite is to avoid wearing the shoes causing it. You can also use certain home remedies to alleviate the pain.

Natural Ways To Treat Shoe Bites At Home

1. Aloe Vera

Several studies have shown that aloe vera possesses anti-inflammatory and healing properties (1). This can help reduce the blisters on your feet. Aloe vera contains glucomannanⁱ  A water-soluble polysaccharide (made of multiple simple sugars) present in the cell walls of several plant species. , which can help promote faster healing.

You Will Need

½ teaspoon of aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

1. Apply aloe vera gel generously to the affected area.
2. Leave it on for a while before you rinse it off with plain water.

How Often Should You Do This

You can repeat this remedy two times a day.

2. Olive Oil

The bioactive compounds in olive oil exhibit anti-inflammatory properties (2). These properties can help reduce the inflammation around the shoe bite.

You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of olive oil
• 1-2 drops of almond oil (as a carrier oil)

What You Have To Do

1. Mix two to three drops of olive oil with one to two drops of almond oil.
2. Apply it generously to the affected area.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this remedy two times a day until the inflammation reduces.

3. Toothpaste

Toothpaste contains menthol, an important component that acts as an analgesicⁱ  The property of a drug used in surgeries that reduces the pain perception without rendering the user unconscious. and reduces the pain caused by shoe bite (3).

You Will Need

• ½ teaspoon of toothpaste
• A clean cotton pad

What You Have To Do

1. Take half a teaspoon of toothpaste on a clean cotton pad.
2. Apply this onto the shoe bite and leave it on until it dries.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water.

How Often Should You Do This

You can use this remedy one to two times daily.

4. Honey

Honey exhibits anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help reduce the inflammation around the shoe bite. These properties also prevent further infection (4).

You Will Need

• A sterile cotton ball or gauze
• 1 tablespoon of honey

What You Have To Do

1. Take a sterile cotton ball and dab it in a tablespoon of honey.
2. Place this on the affected site.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat 3-4 times daily.

5. Coconut Oil And Camphor

Coconut oil exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (5). The lauric acid in coconut oil possesses antimicrobial properties (6). Camphor has been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties (7). Together, they can help in alleviating swelling in the affected foot and prevent further infection.

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon of camphor

What You Have To Do

1. Mix a tablespoon of coconut oil and a teaspoon of camphor.
2. Dab a cotton ball with this mixture and apply to the affected area.

How Often Should You Do This

You can do this two times daily.

6. Neem And Turmeric

The active compounds in neem leaves and turmeric (curcumin) can help reduce inflammation and infection. This is due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties (8), (9).

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
• A handful of neem leaves
• A few drops of water

What You Have To Do

1. Blend all the ingredients to form a thick paste.
2. Apply this paste to the shoe bite.
3. Leave it on until it dries and rinse off with water.

How Often Should You Do This

Do this two times daily.

7. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly is moisturizing. It is also known as petrolatumⁱ  A mix of mineral oils and waxes that is commonly known as vaseline or petroleum jelly, a popular cosmetic. , and it exhibits antimicrobial properties that promote healing (10).

You Will Need

A tablespoon of petroleum jelly

What You Have To Do

1. Apply petroleum jelly to the shoe bite.
2. You can cover the area with socks and leave it on overnight.
3. You can also apply some jelly onto the sides of your shoes for a few days consecutively to soften the edges.

How Often Should You Do This

You can repeat this until your shoe bite is healed.

8. Tea Bag

Applying black tea extract on the injured skin of laboratory rats was found to speed up the healing process, leading to reduced inflammation and increased collagen production (11). Nevertheless, there is no study confirming black tea’s safety or efficacy for this purpose.

You Will Need

• 1 black tea bag
• 1 cup of hot water
• A clean cloth or paper towel

What You Have To Do

1. Steep a black tea bag in hot water for a few minutes.
2. Allow the tea bag to cool until it is comfortably warm but not scalding.
3. Gently press the tea bag against the affected area for a few minutes.
4. Remove the tea bag and let the area air-dry or pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

How Often Should You Do This

Use this remedy one to two times daily.

9. Castor Oil

Castor oil is an emollient that moisturizes and softens skin and has anti-inflammatory properties (12). Therefore, it may help ease the dryness and irritation caused by shoe bites and also help reduce the pain and swelling.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of Castor oil
• A sterile cotton ball
• Bandage (optional)

What You Have To Do

1. Gently wash the affected area with mild soap and water, then pat it dry.
2. Apply castor oil to the shoe bite using a cotton ball and gently massage it.
3. You may cover the area with a bandage to protect it while wearing shoes.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat this 2–3 times daily.

Quick Tip

Alternatively, you may apply cucumber paste on the shoe bite to soothe the blister and pain. A mix of coconut oil and turmeric powder can heal shoe bites quickly.

How Can I Prevent Shoe Bites?

As we have already discussed, ill-fitting shoes are the primary cause of shoe bites. Here are a few ways you can prevent a shoe bite:

1. Always try the shoes on before purchasing them. This will give you a better idea of how well they fit.

2. Rub some oil along the sides of the shoes. Do this for a couple of days before you can wear them. This will help soften the edges and prevent shoe bites.

Venessa, a vlogger whose content revolves about all things shoes, shares several clever hacks to avoid shoe bites when wearing heels. One of the first tips she shares is, “…when you buy the next pair of heels, you want to make sure the area [back of the shoe] is soft and feels comfortable on your feet, so that’s a way to prevent friction. Start off with buying heels that are softer…. Try to invest in leather heels (i).”

3. You can use specially designed shoe bite protectors with adhesiveⁱ  A glue-like material commonly used to attach two or more objects together that can work on various types of surfaces. pads. These pads go inside your shoe and stick where the back of your ankle would be.

4. You could also use toe protectors. These are similar to the adhesive shoe protectors but are applied on the front end of your shoes. These can prevent blisters on your toes.

5. Wear socks or pads with your shoes to prevent excessive skin abrasion.
6. Apply blister prevention patches on friction-prone areas of your feet. These patches act as a barrier, lessen your chance of getting shoe bites, and let you wear your shoes without pain.

Say goodbye to all the worries that tag along when you are out shopping for the perfect shoe!

How do you manage shoe bites? Any tips you would like to share? Post your ideas in the comments box below.

Infographic: 5 Natural Ways To Treat Shoe Bites At Home

The joy of trying a new pair of shoes is often overshadowed by the familiar sensation of pain caused by an annoying shoe bite! Don’t worry. To ensure you enjoy your new kicks to the fullest, we compiled a list of the 5 best ways to relieve shoe bites faster at home. Check out the infographic below to know more.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my shoe bite becomes infected?

It is important to cleanse the region and use an antibiotic ointment if you observe increased redness, swelling, or pus. If the symptoms don’t go away or you experience fever and severe pain, consult a doctor for further treatment.

Why do new shoes hurt?

New shoes could hurt if they do not fit you well. Also, the material of new shoes is rather stiff until the shoes are used well. So, to soften the edges, you can apply some oil for a couple of days before wearing them.

Can a particular type of footwear give me shoe bites?

Closed shoes like sneakers, bellies, pumps, or oxfords could cause shoe bites as they could rub against your skin.

Does Vaseline stop shoes from rubbing?

Yes, Vaseline can be a great solution to prevent friction in new shoes. When breaking in new footwear, using Vaseline in common rubbing spots like the back of the heels or side toes may prevent blisters.

How do you break into new shoes fast?

A few simple hacks to break in new shoes to keep in mind are –
• Wear the shoes often to stretch the material of the footwear.
• Put the shoes out in the sun or use a dryer to stretch the shoe fabric.
• Place frozen bags inside the shoes to reduce stiffness.

Which socks prevent blisters?

Since moisture plays a vital role in causing blisters, opt for socks made of materials like Merino wool or fabrics like polyester to prevent blisters.

How long does it take to break into new shoes?

The duration varies from footwear to footwear and depends on factors like shoe material, how often the shoes are worn, etc. It may take an approximate break-in period of 3-4 weeks.

Why do my shoes give me blisters on my heels?

Blisters are caused due to friction between the skin and footwear surface. The most common areas that come under this category are heels, soles, and toes of the feet.

Learn how to prevent and treat foot blisters with simple tips and tricks. Check out this video on foot care and keep your feet healthy and happy!

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Dr. Jyoti GuptaMD

   

Dr. Jyoti Gupta is a board-certified (IADVL) dermatologist specializing in cosmetic, laser, and hair transplant surgery. She has 10 years of experience, and has done over 1000 hair transplant surgeries and 3000 aesthetic procedures.

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Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

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Ramona SinhaEditor

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Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends.

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