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Wear gloves -

One of the most surefire ways to prevent a blister developing is to wear gloves when carrying out a strenuous activity. They act as a buffer and protect your skin from friction.

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Wear gloves -

There are lots of different types of gloves out there, each suited to different types of work. Try them out beforehand to check that they are flexible enough for your planned activity.

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Keep your hands dry -

Wet or sweaty hands are more likely to develop blisters, because the moisture increases the friction between your skin and whatever instrument you are holding.

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Keep your hands dry -

If your hands start to feel sweaty, be sure to wash and dry them thoroughly with a clean towel. Make sure your gloves are not too tight, as this can cause moisture to get trapped.

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Cover problem areas -

You may notice that there are certain parts of your hand that are more likely to develop blisters. For example, you may find that you always get a blister on the inside of your finger.

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Cover problem areas -

If you find yourself in this situation, be sure to cover the problem area every time you begin your activity. Using a cushioned bandage will protect your skin from whatever you're holding.

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Apply petroleum jelly -

Another way to reduce friction is to apply a lubricant, such as petroleum jelly. If you don't have petroleum jelly, any thick skin cream will do the trick.

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Apply petroleum jelly -

Using a lubricant will reduce friction, even if you are wearing gloves. When applying, you may want to focus on the base of your fingers, since this is a problem area for many people.

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Avoid irritants -

If you're having an allergic reaction to an irritant, such as perfume or bleach, it's much more likely that your skin will blister, particularly if you already have sensitive skin.

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Avoid irritants -

Common irritants to avoid include fragrances, rubbing alcohol or solvents, bleach, fertilizers or pesticides, and even airborne substances such as sawdust.

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Start slow -

It is important to start slowly with a blister-causing activity, such as digging or gymnastics. The more accustomed your skin is to an activity, the less blister-prone it will be.

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Start slow -

This is because starting slowly allows your skin time to develop callouses, which, although unsightly, help to toughen and prevent your skin from developing the blisters.

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Stop if you feel pain -

If you notice any pain while doing a blister-causing activity, it is important that you stop right away. At that point you may be able to prevent a blister from developing.

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Stop if you feel pain -

If you continue with the activity even after you've noticed the pain, a blister is much more likely to develop. The same goes for just taking a break and then going back to the activity.

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Don't pop it -

If you do get a blister, and unfortunately they are sometimes unavoidable, the best thing to do is to leave it to heal on its own. Usually it will go away after a week or so.

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Don't pop it -

In order to prevent the blister from popping, try to cover it with a bandage. This will protect it from any knocks or scrapes that may break the blistered skin.

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If you have to pop it -

Unfortunately, there are some blisters that develop in an awkward place and it becomes necessary to pop them because they're too distracting.

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If you have to pop it -

If you do have to pop a blister, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly first. You should also sterilize both the needle and the blister with rubbing alcohol or iodine.

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Wear the right shoes -

If you find that you suffer from blisters on your feet, it is likely that you're wearing the wrong shoes. Try to avoid footwear that rubs certain areas, or cramps or squeezes your feet.

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Wear the right shoes -

Don't worry if you buy a new pair of shoes and they give you blisters when you first start wearing them. This is normal; it can take time to break in a new pair.

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Wear the right socks -

It's also important what you wear underneath your shoes. Try to opt for non-cotton socks that wick away moisture. They can be a bit pricey, but they are definitely worth the investment.

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Wear the right socks -

If you are headed out for some serious blister-inducing activity, you may want to double up on socks. The first layer will absorb moisture and the second will provide a cushion.

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Keep the callouses -

As discussed earlier, repeated strenuous activity can cause callouses to develop. If you've ever had a callous, you'll know it's tempting to try and get rid of it with a pumice stone.

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Keep the callouses -

As tempting as that may be, it's important not to get rid of callouses, as they protect your skin from developing blisters. Try to embrace them in all their ugliness.

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Moisturize -

When callouses dry out, they can sometimes cause painful cracks in the skin. To avoid this from happening, you should make sure to keep the area moisturized.

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Moisturize -

To prevent cracks from developing, try to moisturize your feet, in particular your heels, with a good foot (or even hand) cream after every bath or shower.

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Toughen with tannins -

A pro tip from marathon runners and long-distance walkers is to soak your feet in 10% tannic acid. This helps to toughen the skin and make it less blister-prone.

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Toughen with tannins -

If you don't have easy access to 10% tannic acid, a tea soak offers a good alternative. This is because tea also contains skin-strengthening tannins.

Sources: (WikiHow) (Verywell Fit)

See also: Sustainable tricks that will make you a better gardener

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