Shoe bite can instantly and very painfully kill the joy of wearing a new footwear. Shoe bite treatment is necessary to prevent the wound from turning nasty. Read on to know more.
Shoe bite is a common foot problem which mostly arises due to new or ill-fitting footwear. Its prevalence is more in women than in men. The reason is obvious, as women often go for the appearance rather than the comfort of shoes. Unfortunately, the shiny new footwear does not come alone, it is accompanied by a plethora of problems. Shoe bite causes extreme discomfort, more so if you are required to stand or walk all day. Not only that, it often leaves ugly scars behind, which can ruin the beauty of your foot.
Causes
Often, people end up buying shoes that are smaller than their foot size. As a result, the shoe fits tightly and brushes against the skin, resulting in inflammation of that area. Sometimes, the foot of an individual may not be as per the standard proportions of the shoe-maker, for example, you may have a heel that is ¼ inch wider than the largest size available. In such cases, you may get a shoe bite even though you are wearing a right sized footwear. Getting customized footwear is an option in such cases.
Treatment
The first and foremost thing that is to be done when you get a shoe bite is to stop wearing that footwear until the wound heals completely. Other than that, here are some cures that will definitely help you out:
- Apply an antiseptic cream or lotion to the wound. Do not cover it with a bandage, as you’ll only make it worse.
- Wear light and airy footwear until the wound heals. The footwear should be preferably open so as to allow the wound some air.
- Dust some antiseptic powder upon the shoe bite at least 2-3 times a day to prevent the area from remaining moist.
- If there is a burning sensation, you may try applying aloe vera gel to soothe the skin.
- Applying turmeric on the wound is a good home remedy. Not only does it accelerate healing process, but it also prevents ugly scars.
- Yet another remedy you can try at home is applying a paste of rice flour to the wound. Wipe it off when it dries. It will give an instant relief.
- Do not put your foot in water, as it may lead to pus formation in the wound.
- Crush some neem leaves to form a paste and add a pinch of turmeric to it. Apply this mixture on the wound to accelerate the process of scab formation.
Preventing a Shoe Bite
“Prevention is better than cure”, they say, so always prevent yourself from getting a shoe bite in the first place. You may know instantly what kind of a footwear is likely to cause this problem. Here are a few steps that will help you prevent your feet from getting those ugly scars:
- Apply some coconut oil or castor oil for 3 days in a row on the footwear prior to wearing it. This will soften the shoe and prevent it from biting your foot.
- Apply some petroleum jelly on the areas of shoe that are likely to cause a bite. Let it stay overnight before wiping off the excess jelly.
- Slide some raw potato slices inside the shoe and keep them overnight.
- If nothing works, you can apply a bandage beforehand. Alternatively, you can also stick the strip of bandage to the pricking areas of the shoe.
- You can also try placing a few cotton balls inside the shoe. However, do not stuff your footwear with them, as it can cause discomfort.
Treatment for a shoe bite won’t be necessary at all if you exercise all the precautions given above. Most importantly, always buy a footwear that’s neither too small for your feet nor too large. A perfectly fitting shoe made of the right fabric will go a long way in protecting you against all kinds of foot problems.
