Shoe Bite Treatment

Shoe bite is a common foot problem, which mostly arises due to new or ill-fitting shoes. Its prevalence is more in women than in men. The reason is obvious, while buying shoes, women often go for the appearance rather than the comfort of shoes. Unfortunately, the shiny new shoes do not come alone, they are accompanied by a plethora of foot problems and shoe bite is just one of them. Shoe bite causes extreme discomfort, more so, if you are required to stand or walk all day. Not only that, shoe bite often leaves ugly scars behind, which can ruin the beauty of your foot. More on common foot problems.

What Causes a Shoe Bite?
Often, people end up buying shoes that are a size 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. Meaning, you may have a heel that's 1/4th inch wider than the largest size available. In such cases, you may get a shoe bite, even though you are wearing a correct size footwear. Getting customized footwear is an option in such cases. More on custom made orthopedic shoes.

Shoe Bite Treatment
The first and the foremost thing that is to be done, after you get a shoe bite, is to stop wearing that footwear until the wound heals completely. Besides, here are some shoe bite cures that will definitely help you out.

• Apply an antiseptic cream or lotion to the wound. Do not cover it with a bandage, 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.
• 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 homemade shoe bite remedy. Not only does it accelerate healing process, but it also prevents ugly shoe bite marks.
• Yet another shoe bite remedy you can try at home is applying a paste of rice flour on the wound. Wipe it off, when dried. It gives 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 shoe bite to accelerate the process of scar formation.

Shoe Bite Prevention
'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 shoe bite. Here are a few steps that will help you prevent your feet from getting those ugly shoe bite 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 the shoe bite.
• Apply some petroleum jelly on the areas of shoe that are likely to cause a shoe 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 shoe with them, as it can cause discomfort. Also read about foot care.

Shoe bite treatment won't be necessary at all, if you exercise all the precautions given above. Most importantly, always buy a shoe that's neither too small for your feet nor too large. A perfectly fitting shoe made of right fabric, goes a long way in protecting you against all kinds of foot problems.