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Two names that come to mind are Rebecca Rushton (https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/) and John Vonhof (http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/blog/tag/dehydration/). Both appear to base their advice on their long term support for marathon and ultra-marathon runners.Staying well hydrated is certainly important, especially on long walks in warm temperatures. I am interested to know if anyone has information about scientific studies (or even opinion of qualified experts) that hydration - i.e. drinking lots of fluids - affects the likelihood of getting blisters on the feet.
Never use any soap or gel,it washes away the natural protective layer on your skin.I don't know about blisters but having just completed my Camino Frances 3 weeks ago I tried to keep hydrated as much as possible. My facial skin complexion really suffered and still is. I think this may have had sonething to do with soaps and gels etc used to shower, shave and wash clothes with.
Think it's fair to say my face looks a touch 'weathered'.
Is there some scientific evidence to support this, or is it just another old wive's tale? This thread was started to see if people knew of any evidence basis for the advice we give so freely on staying hydrated, and anecdotes and the like hardly count as scientific evidence.Never use any soap or gel,it washes away the natural protective layer on your skin.
Read ScarletTwo names that come to mind are Rebecca Rushton (https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/) and John Vonhof (http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/blog/tag/dehydration/). Both appear to base their advice on their long term support for marathon and ultra-marathon runners.
read Scarlet Fez !Is there some scientific evidence to support this, or is it just another old wive's tale? This thread was started to see if people knew of any evidence basis for the advice we give so freely on staying hydrated, and anecdotes and the like hardly count as scientific evidence.
No scientific proof just the evidence of practical proof. It worked for me but I guess that isn't scientific. Try it or not it's personal choiceIs there some scientific evidence to support this, or is it just another old wive's tale? This thread was started to see if people knew of any evidence basis for the advice we give so freely on staying hydrated, and anecdotes and the like hardly count as scientific evidence.
Just my experience !Is there some scientific evidence to support this, or is it just another old wive's tale? This thread was started to see if people knew of any evidence basis for the advice we give so freely on staying hydrated, and anecdotes and the like hardly count as scientific evidence.
I already have, and as I said, anecdotes are not scientific evidence. If someone spends three weeks walking, another explanation is that the effects that the sun, wind and rain will have had on their skin.read Scarlet Fez !
And my point is that this post was not created to collect another set of these. The question, just to remind everyone, was:Just my experience !
I am interested to know if anyone has information about scientific studies
I already have, and as I said, anecdotes are not scientific evidence. If someone spends three weeks walking, another explanation is that the effects that the sun, wind and rain will have had on their skin.
And my point is that this post was not created to collect another set of these. The question, just to remind everyone, was:
We all do that, but it might be both a strength and weakness of the forum inasmuch as strategies that suit us in particular circumstances are not consistently the best approaches across a broad range of circumstances.No Doug you are right no scientific studies or evidence just ordinary walkers relating their experiences to try to help others.
Applying this as the normal hand hygiene post toilet or prior to food preparation would, I suspect, markedly increase an individual's exposure to dangerous pathogens.Never use any soap or gel,it washes away the natural protective layer on your skin.
I don't understand this reference.read Scarlet Fez !
Our own experience is the most important evidence that we should rely on. It is helpful to know the experience of others. That's why we discuss these topics. It is even better when the experience of many people in similar situations is collected and summarized, and shown to be repeatable cause and effect. That is scientific evidence. It may just prove that different methods work on different people.Just my experience !
Two names that come to mind are Rebecca Rushton (https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/) and John Vonhof (http://www.fixingyourfeet.com/blog/tag/dehydration/). Both appear to base their advice on their long term support for marathon and ultra-marathon runners.
I agree that getting the search parameters right can make all the difference, and have tried a variety of different combinations including dehydration. There seems to be significant bodies of work in both areas (dehydration and blister formation) but almost nothing to address the combination.As for scientific studies, it might be better to look for information about the effects of dehydration rather than hydration in relation to blistering ? My interpretation of some medical sites is that those with more fragile skin that is prone to blistering might suffer more easily when dehydrated. As your second link suggests : "When you become fluid-deficient, the skin loses its normal levels of water and in turn loses its turgor. Then it easily rubs or folds over on itself, which leads to blisters."
Yes, that is true and I also used those terms. I was looking for support for the statements of the sort "stay hydrated to prevent blisters".look for information about the effects of dehydration rather than hydration in relation to blistering
I find that my facial skin and other exposed skin reacts badly to most sunscreens. It might be something to consider. Any commercial sunscreen with the usual myriad of ingredients seems to make my skin itchy, red and sore, even swollen sometimes and as it's healing, it can look pretty "weathered". I now stick to a hat and long sleeves and a basic zinc based sunscreen.I don't know about blisters but having just completed my Camino Frances 3 weeks ago I tried to keep hydrated as much as possible. My facial skin complexion really suffered and still is. I think this may have had sonething to do with soaps and gels etc used to shower, shave and wash clothes with.
Think it's fair to say my face looks a touch 'weathered'.
Inside the boots/shoes? Because that's where we usually find blisters caused by walking.If someone spends three weeks walking, another explanation is that the effects that the sun, wind and rain will have had on their skin.
Totally agree. One of the first days I was fool enough to shower also in the morning - on damp feet I got the only blister I had during the whole Camino. Soft feet = vulnerable feet.most of the research work that I have found in the public domain relates to the effects of skin hydration (ie skin dampness) on blister formation,
This supports the opposite argument that too much hydration (albeit external) causes blistering! So, still no evidence that hydration (internal) has any influence at all on blistering.Totally agree. One of the first days I was fool enough to shower also in the morning - on damp feet I got the only blister I had during the whole Camino. Soft feet = vulnerable feet.
Very droll. I don't know if @Scarlet Fez was wearing his boots on his head. Here is his original comment:Inside the boots/shoes? Because that's where we usually find blisters caused by walking.
Think it's fair to say my face looks a touch 'weathered'.
I was really well hydrated but suffered terrible blisters. My boots were worn in before trip. My travelling companion drinks very little and did not have blistersStaying well hydrated is certainly important, especially on long walks in warm temperatures. I am interested to know if anyone has information about scientific studies (or even opinion of qualified experts) that hydration - i.e. drinking lots of fluids - affects the likelihood of getting blisters on the feet.
And again...I do nothing special to my feet,no powder nothing and just wear ordinary socks.We all do that, but it might be both a strength and weakness of the forum inasmuch as strategies that suit us in particular circumstances are not consistently the best approaches across a broad range of circumstances.
For example, I prefer to use double socks, foot powder and prophylactic taping as the key elements of my blister prevention strategy. Double socks and taping appear to be strongly supported by research. Foot powder has limitations, inasmuch as it is only useful for reducing skin friction while it remains dry. If it becomes damp, it increases skin friction, and the attendant risk of blisters forming.
You seem to prefer an emollient preparation, which has different limitations and isn't recommended for all circumstances. I suspect that you will not let that stop you using it any more than I will stop using foot powder, because we both know the circumstances where our preferred approaches work for us as individuals.
In a similar vein, a few years ago the US military did a systemic literature review on the prevention of physical training injuries in which they examined 40 different injury prevention strategies. They only found six that they considered were adequately enough supported by scientific evidence to recommend. Two of the proposed strategies were not recommended on the basis that there was evidence of harm, and 23 had insufficient evidence, and would need more research work before they could be recommended.
Similarly, it would be possible to take this advice completely out of context:
Applying this as the normal hand hygiene post toilet or prior to food preparation would, I suspect, markedly increase an individual's exposure to dangerous pathogens.
Getting back to the topic, other than the two sources I have already suggested, most of the research work that I have found in the public domain relates to the effects of skin hydration (ie skin dampness) on blister formation, and I have not been able to find anything so far that links dehydration generally with blister formation.
I think that we would all like to get to the point where we understand what factors influence the formation of blisters, and how we might avoid those. Luck is not a basis for sound advice on this matter! Science or long term observation might be.And again...I do nothing special to my feet,no powder nothing and just wear ordinary socks.
Never had blisters...just luck I guess...
Yes, advice to "Be lucky!" is not much help. We can increase our chances of a good outcome by following advice that is based on science or long term observation.Luck is not a basis for sound advice on this matter! Science or long term observation might be.
That's kind of arrogant!It seems to me that blisters are very avoidable.
Addendum: Everyone is different. And. Some cancers are relatively avoidable - don't smoke. Acne? Avoid being a teenager.Yes, advice to "Be lucky!" is not much help. We can increase our chances of a good outcome by following advice that is based on science or long term observation.
That's kind of arrogant!It's like saying "acne is avoidable" or "cancer is avoidable." It is only true up to a point; it does not apply in all cases.
OK. We can all probably agree that blisters are also relatively avoidable!Addendum: Everyone is different. And. Some cancers are relatively avoidable - don't smoke. Acne? Avoid being a teenager.
Probably relatively. Almost like Inuit for "snow" or Japanese for "apologise". I don't do emojis so things can get fraught with a lack of expressment. I just couldn't resist writing this. It's sad and probably some kind of addiction.OK. We can all probably agree that blisters are also relatively avoidable!
At least we have that settled.Probably relatively.
Thanks Jimmy,Blisters are caused by shear – the pressure that occurs when layers of skin are forced to slide over one another or deeper layers of tissue. Also, it is scientifically proven that skin make-up differs in different people. Age affects elasticity for instance, skinny people may have less fat under the top surface etc. A scientific starting point may be to look at instances where similar stresses cause other debilitating effects on the skin. I am think of pressure ulcers, for example. If you want some scientific details on how hydration ( or even de-hydration) affects the surface skin enough to cause ulcers then you may have a scientific starting point. There are plenty of well funded and independent studies out there, just google for them.
Skin type seems to be the defining factor in the severity of surface shear damage so I would hazard the view that it is also the defining factor in damage under the surface between the layers. This is not a fact, but I think it is reasonable to class this assumption as a value judgement, rather than hearsay.
Blister prevention, therefore, is as varied as skin types, what works for one may not work on another. Trial and error may be the order of the day until those definitive fact finding scientific studies are carried out. I would hazard a guess that cures based on double stockings, vaseline, no soap, talcum powder, whilst working perfectly for individuals would never lead to the profit margins required by "Big Pharma" to spend their cash on that type of research. ( Then again I am a cynic, so what do I factually know)
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