How to deal with blisters / chafing on walking-intensive trips?

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Blisters

As a collector of blisters, this is what I do. Note: this is not medical advice and you're definitely taking some risk of infection with this method. However, I've done this a lot without problems and I've been in some pretty bad locations.

Before you go to sleep:

  1. Lance ('pop') the blister with a clean needle
  2. Drain the fluid from the blister
  3. Apply some antibiotic to the affected area
  4. Snugly, but not too tightly, wrap the affected body part so the epidermis (top layer of skin) is pushed against the dermis (the skin closer to your body, the red painful part). For toes, band-aids work well. For other parts, you may have to use some gauze and an ace wrap or self-adhesive wrap.
  5. With any luck, the old skin will 'rebond' to the live skin.

When you wake up:

  1. Inspect the affected area, lance and drain again if necessary
  2. Put on a fresh wrap/bandage/whatever you're using.

However, when you start walking the next day your feet will start sweating, the blister will come undone, but it won't be quite as painful. To avoid this continue to keep the affect area 'wrapped' just to keep the skin (hopefully) in place.

When you're done walking for the day:

  1. Take your sweaty foot gear off
  2. Air out your feet.
  3. Inspect and repeat the lancing/draining process if necessary.
  4. Reapply antibiotic and wrap snugly.

Chafing

I chafe between my upper legs. Consequently, I hike my pants/shorts up so the crotch of the clothing is between crotch: the cloth is rubbing together instead of the inside of my legs. My shirt is untucked so I don't look like Urkel. This makes it cloth on cloth friction rather than skin on skin friction. This avoids chafing and/or reduces aggravating chafed areas. Wearing compression type shorts is also an option to protect chafed areas Although that may result in other parts of your body experiencing chafing.

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