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Very different products with different properties. Sudocrem is not a very useful lubricant in my experience and does not seem to be as effective as Vaseline to prevent chafing. However I find it more effective in treating chafed areas of skin and especially areas of fungal infection to which I am occasionally prone. I do not normally use either as a preventative on my feet and I rarely have trouble with blisters. I do occasionally use Sudocrem between my toes to relieve the itchy symptoms of athlete's foot if they occur or to apply to other chafed areas. I usually carry a small tub for that reason. Sometimes thinned a little with a few drops of tea tree oil which I also find useful as an anti-fungal agent.
Try one of the many antifriction products like Body Glide, that are not greasy like Vaseline.Hi all,
I brought a small amount of Sudocrem in a little travel pot in my first aid kit on my last Camino but never thought of using it on my feet. After reading up on the forum here about Vaseline as a blister prevention method, I am wondering if Sudocrem might do as good a job as Vaseline as a foot lubricant?
The ingredients of both are as follows:
Vaseline = 100% petroleum jelly.
Sudocrem = % (w/w): Zinc Oxide, 15.25, Benzyl Alcohol 0.39, Benzyl Benzoate 1.01, Benzyl Cinnamate 0.15, Lanolin (Hypo-Allergenic) 4, Also contains: Purified Water, Liquid Paraffin, Paraffin Wax, Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Sodium Benzoate, Linalyl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Lavender Fragrance
My logic here is that, while in gross amounts petroleum will glide over surfaces, both petroleum and paraffin act as moisture barriers for the skin and reduce friction. I only intend on using small amounts of either rubbed onto the skin because I don't want to spend hours every night trying to get the stuff out of my socks!
Does anyone have any experience of using Sudocrem on their feet over long distances or am I completely on the wrong track thinking that Sudocrem might be suitable?
Try one of the many antifriction products like Body Glide, that are not greasy like Vaseline.
https://www.bodyglide.com/
Hi all,
I brought a small amount of Sudocrem in a little travel pot in my first aid kit on my last Camino but never thought of using it on my feet. After reading up on the forum here about Vaseline as a blister prevention method, I am wondering if Sudocrem might do as good a job as Vaseline as a foot lubricant?
The ingredients of both are as follows:
Vaseline = 100% petroleum jelly.
Sudocrem = % (w/w): Zinc Oxide, 15.25, Benzyl Alcohol 0.39, Benzyl Benzoate 1.01, Benzyl Cinnamate 0.15, Lanolin (Hypo-Allergenic) 4, Also contains: Purified Water, Liquid Paraffin, Paraffin Wax, Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Sodium Benzoate, Linalyl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Lavender Fragrance
My logic here is that, while in gross amounts petroleum will glide over surfaces, both petroleum and paraffin act as moisture barriers for the skin and reduce friction. I only intend on using small amounts of either rubbed onto the skin because I don't want to spend hours every night trying to get the stuff out of my socks!
Does anyone have any experience of using Sudocrem on their feet over long distances or am I completely on the wrong track thinking that Sudocrem might be suitable?
Davebugg, I have decided to do a semi-winter Camino. I will be doing the CF. I will start walking about October 28th. Wanted to do th VDLP but promised my wife I would be home for Christmas. I live in Puerto Vallarta so there aren't alot of choices for buying winter walking boots. But I will be in Ithaca, New York in July for my annual college reunion with the boys. This year marks our 47th year of friendship. Not as wild a gathering this year as say, 44 or 45 years ago. Anyway, do you think you could meet me in Ithaca about July 25 or so? Then we can pick out some light comfortable boots that I can wear. I am always tempted to wing it with my Brooks trail runners but I know that would probably be foolish. By some chance if you can't make it maybe you could recommend a few different brands. Remember light and really comfy. Please don't kill me on the price hahaha. But try to make it. We have fun.I have posted this before, and maybe it can be of help to you.
----------------------------------------
Blisters are a product of friction.... often referred to as shear force friction. The skin of your foot, and the sock that is in contact with that area of skin, are sliding and rubbing together.
Strategies for the prevention of shear force friction and blisters have changed and matured over recent years.
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- A properly fitting shoe. In brief, it needs to be long enough and wide enough to accommodate any insoles, orthotics, metatarsal pads, etc, PLUS the socks that you will be wearing, PLUS the increased pressure on the feet from wearing a loaded pack.
- Light padded Merino wool sock designed for walking or backpacking, or the same type of sock in a good synthetic blend. A heavy pad on a sock allows potentially more movement against the skin, takes longer to air out, and takes longer to dry when washed.
- A sock fit that is snug and form fitting to the foot, but not gangrene-inducing tight. You want the shear force to be between the sock and the interior of the shoe, not the sock and the skin. A snug fitting sock will help to make that happen.
- Allow the shoe to move over the sock a bit. By keeping the shoes a bit looser on the feet, the sock will take the brunt of the shear force. If a shoe is tied snug, then that forces the foot to move more in the sock, which means the sock and skin are absorbing the shear force. An exception occurs on long downhill grades; the shoes need to be tied tight enough to keep your toes from hitting the front of the shoe which can cause injury and trauma to the nail bed and toe joints.
- While there are foot lubricants, from Body Glide and Hiker's Goo to plain old vaseline, they have a fairly short viable working span as the material rubs off of the skin and is absorbed by the socks. For prophylactic protection from shear force friction to blister prone areas on the feet, a long lasting barrier is the better option. The placement of tapes, like Leukotape P, or moleskin-type products, if adhered correctly, will last the whole day.
- To apply tapes and moleskin type products,
- Clean off the area of application with a bit of alcohol to remove grease, dirt, and body oils. A bit of regular hand sanitizer works for this, in addition to hand cleansing.
- Cut a piece of your chosen barrier material to fit the area you want protected; be sure to cut rounded corners rather than square in order to help the material from rolling up away from the skin.
- Apply a thin smear of Tincture of Benzoin to the skin area where the adhesive will stick. This will increase the holding power of the tape or moleskin.
- If the tape or moleskin, etc. is going on top of a blistered area, avoid getting the Benzoin on the roof area of the blister, and add a thin coating of ointment/vaseline onto the blister roof, avoiding the surrounding skin area. This will allow removal of the product without hurting the blister wound.
- Place the barrier on the area, taking care to not handle the adhesive; spend a bit of time rubbing the material to create friction so that the adhesive will heat up and adhere more firmly.
- At the end of the day, remove the barrier and use some alcohol to wipe the area that was covered.
- Since fungus (athletes foot) and pathogens splash around in showers, shower shoes are not necessarily preventative to one's feet being exposed or infected. It is helpful to use an alcohol or astringent product applied to the feet after showering.
Davebugg, I have decided to do a semi-winter Camino. I will be doing the CF. I will start walking about October 28th. Wanted to do th VDLP but promised my wife I would be home for Christmas. I live in Puerto Vallarta so there aren't alot of choices for buying winter walking boots. But I will be in Ithaca, New York in July for my annual college reunion with the boys. This year marks our 47th year of friendship. Not as wild a gathering this year as say, 44 or 45 years ago. Anyway, do you think you could meet me in Ithaca about July 25 or so? Then we can pick out some light comfortable boots that I can wear. I am always tempted to wing it with my Brooks trail runners but I know that would probably be foolish. By some chance if you can't make it maybe you could recommend a few different brands. Remember light and really comfy. Please don't kill me on the price hahaha. But try to make it. We have fun.
Thanks for your reply @Bradypus and agreed that they are very different products...I am just chancing my arm to see if I can extrapolate an extra few uses from a mini tub of Sudocrem to save me carrying a pot of Vasoline as well! It would be for blister prevention rather than chafing (thankfully that's never been an issue for me) I would be hoping to use it, so maybe it's not ideal for that purpose. I will be keeping it in my first aid kit for treating minor skin issues though.
What they do have in common is that they are both quite greasy to use and would be bothersome to wash out of socks if they built up so I do want to avoid that as well.
Cheers for the tip of adding some drops of tea tree oil, I might give that one a go.
Are you a podiatrist too? This is just too detailed! But it is the BEST.I have posted this before, and maybe it can be of help to you.
----------------------------------------
Blisters are a product of friction.... often referred to as shear force friction. The skin of your foot, and the sock that is in contact with that area of skin, are sliding and rubbing together.
Strategies for the prevention of shear force friction and blisters have changed and matured over recent years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- A properly fitting shoe. In brief, it needs to be long enough and wide enough to accommodate any insoles, orthotics, metatarsal pads, etc, PLUS the socks that you will be wearing, PLUS the increased pressure on the feet from wearing a loaded pack.
- Light padded Merino wool sock designed for walking or backpacking, or the same type of sock in a good synthetic blend. A heavy pad on a sock allows potentially more movement against the skin, takes longer to air out, and takes longer to dry when washed.
- A sock fit that is snug and form fitting to the foot, but not gangrene-inducing tight. You want the shear force to be between the sock and the interior of the shoe, not the sock and the skin. A snug fitting sock will help to make that happen.
- Allow the shoe to move over the sock a bit. By keeping the shoes a bit looser on the feet, the sock will take the brunt of the shear force. If a shoe is tied snug, then that forces the foot to move more in the sock, which means the sock and skin are absorbing the shear force. An exception occurs on long downhill grades; the shoes need to be tied tight enough to keep your toes from hitting the front of the shoe which can cause injury and trauma to the nail bed and toe joints.
- While there are foot lubricants, from Body Glide and Hiker's Goo to plain old vaseline, they have a fairly short viable working span as the material rubs off of the skin and is absorbed by the socks. For prophylactic protection from shear force friction to blister prone areas on the feet, a long lasting barrier is the better option. The placement of tapes, like Leukotape P, or moleskin-type products, if adhered correctly, will last the whole day.
- To apply tapes and moleskin type products,
- Clean off the area of application with a bit of alcohol to remove grease, dirt, and body oils. A bit of regular hand sanitizer works for this, in addition to hand cleansing.
- Cut a piece of your chosen barrier material to fit the area you want protected; be sure to cut rounded corners rather than square in order to help the material from rolling up away from the skin.
- Apply a thin smear of Tincture of Benzoin to the skin area where the adhesive will stick. This will increase the holding power of the tape or moleskin.
- If the tape or moleskin, etc. is going on top of a blistered area, avoid getting the Benzoin on the roof area of the blister, and add a thin coating of ointment/vaseline onto the blister roof, avoiding the surrounding skin area. This will allow removal of the product without hurting the blister wound.
- Place the barrier on the area, taking care to not handle the adhesive; spend a bit of time rubbing the material to create friction so that the adhesive will heat up and adhere more firmly.
- At the end of the day, remove the barrier and use some alcohol to wipe the area that was covered.
- Since fungus (athletes foot) and pathogens splash around in showers, shower shoes are not necessarily preventative to one's feet being exposed or infected. It is helpful to use an alcohol or astringent product applied to the feet after showering.
Are you a podiatrist too? This is just too detailed! But it is the BEST.
For one podiatrist's view on blister prevention, see https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/. It is an excellent resource, and slightly more nuanced on some issues.Are you a podiatrist too? This is just too detailed! But it is the BEST.
What will be the purpose of applying the Sudocreme?Thanks all. I am going to give rubbing a tiny amount of Sudocrem on at night a go because the stuff dries up completely by the morning. Starting out in the mornings, I might give BG a go (have decided against Vaseline) or else liners (I use them for day hikes but never on the Camino). For hot spots, I'm going to stick with zinc oxide tape which has worked for me in the past. Fingers crossed blisters will be minimal!
Never tried it but have used the pilgrim stuff sold along the camino, vaseline and vick. The pilgrim stuff while very good is expensive at €12 a jar. Vaseline believe it or not, I had problems sourcing it in places. Vick on the other hand is available in all farmacias and only half the price of the pilgrim ointment. Getting any of them out of your socks is no problem. Sudocrem on the other hand was not the easiest to wash out of towelling nappies. Yes I am old enough to remember those and changed many a dirty one. On the basis of my experiences with nappies, I would not recommend it. But anything is better than blisters. On the one occasion I got a blister I put compeed on it. Now there is a problem getting out of your socks if it comes off while walkingHi all,
I brought a small amount of Sudocrem in a little travel pot in my first aid kit on my last Camino but never thought of using it on my feet. After reading up on the forum here about Vaseline as a blister prevention method, I am wondering if Sudocrem might do as good a job as Vaseline as a foot lubricant?
The ingredients of both are as follows:
Vaseline = 100% petroleum jelly.
Sudocrem = % (w/w): Zinc Oxide, 15.25, Benzyl Alcohol 0.39, Benzyl Benzoate 1.01, Benzyl Cinnamate 0.15, Lanolin (Hypo-Allergenic) 4, Also contains: Purified Water, Liquid Paraffin, Paraffin Wax, Beeswax, Microcrystalline Wax, Sodium Benzoate, Linalyl Acetate, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Butylated Hydroxyanisole, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Lavender Fragrance
My logic here is that, while in gross amounts petroleum will glide over surfaces, both petroleum and paraffin act as moisture barriers for the skin and reduce friction. I only intend on using small amounts of either rubbed onto the skin because I don't want to spend hours every night trying to get the stuff out of my socks!
Does anyone have any experience of using Sudocrem on their feet over long distances or am I completely on the wrong track thinking that Sudocrem might be suitable?
You can also look for Aquaphor. I have seen it on the farmacias.Vaseline believe it or not, I had problems sourcing it in places
HiDavebugg, I have decided to do a semi-winter Camino. I will be doing the CF. I will start walking about October 28th. Wanted to do th VDLP but promised my wife I would be home for Christmas. I live in Puerto Vallarta so there aren't alot of choices for buying winter walking boots. But I will be in Ithaca, New York in July for my annual college reunion with the boys. This year marks our 47th year of friendship. Not as wild a gathering this year as say, 44 or 45 years ago. Anyway, do you think you could meet me in Ithaca about July 25 or so? Then we can pick out some light comfortable boots that I can wear. I am always tempted to wing it with my Brooks trail runners but I know that would probably be foolish. By some chance if you can't make it maybe you could recommend a few different brands. Remember light and really comfy. Please don't kill me on the price hahaha. But try to make it. We have fun.
What will be the purpose of applying the Sudocreme?
Healing of what?However, I might use it at night to promote healing.
Healing of what?
Okay, but what specifically? Blisters?The skin...
Okay, but what specifically? Blisters?
I realised that I used underarm antiperspirant and it worked well under my arms, so I tried it on my feet and since then no more blisters
I've been following the videos of Sara Dhooma, who does a lot of walking. You can find them on YouTube. She has chronicled her walks on a number of camino routes. In any case, this is what she touts as her secret weapon against blisters.I have no 'official qualifications' except my own personal experience. I have been walking the Camino every year with one exception since 2007. In the early years, in spite of following all sorts of advice I always got at least one blister. I then thought the whole thing through and decided; that on the Camino my feet got hot and sweaty, therefore my skin got damp and soft and then I got blisters. So could I prevent the sweat?? . I realised that I used underarm antiperspirant and it worked well under my arms, so I tried it on my feet and since then no more blisters. I use a stick antiperspirant like Mitchum and I rub it well in and between the toes. Maybe it could work for others too.
Someone mentioned using an antiperspirant on her feet. While I haven’t walked the Camino (yet), I did use the antiperspirant technique while walking the Chartres pilgrimage in 2017. For those who do not know, this is a three day, 70-75 mile hike. I would also use sock liners if I ever walk the Camino.
After walking to Chartres, we visited Santiago de Compostela. There I saw pilgrims completing the Camino. Some pilgrims looked fresh, while others looked tan and skinny, as if they had been out in the sun for a long time. Seeing them inspired me to one day walk the Camino.
I used the Leuko tape method. From reading this thread I’ll now cut the corners off. After carefully taping my heel and footpad, I’d add a bit of Vick’s vapor rub between my toes and elsewhere. I never blistered. At the end of each day after showering, I’d use the German foot creme Geh Wold (also available on Amazon), mentioned above. It was heaven and available along the Camino. My feet are usually tough and calloused but using this treatment they were soft and pliable. And blister free.
I think of applying tape to the balls of my feet (my particular hot spot prone area) as an insurance policy against blisters.In my judgement, pre-taping (Leukotape, Omnifix, Moleskin, etc) is superior to applications of lubricants for this concern.
They have NOK at pharmacies in León!I swear by NOK. Lost it out of my pack on my way from Paris to Porto in September, couldn't find anything quite like it in Portugal and this Camino was the only time that I had an issue - a blister on my heel. In Canada, I get it at MEC, but probably could be bought on line.
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