Not suitable for use on blisters! (Compeed Blister Plasters)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Compeed Blister Plasters
Date:	16/01/09 (554 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great when they work

Disadvantages: Sore when they don't

As you might have seen from some of my other reviews, I am currently training for a marathon.......that means lots of miles of plodding (I can't say "running" for fear of being done under some sort of misrepresentation act!).

I have been wearing my old faithful trainers up until a couple of weeks ago, when I could no longer kid myself that they were suitable for running such distances in. I therefore went to the running shop and bought some fab shiney new running shoes.

Now, these shoes are doing everything that I want........almost. They are comfortable, supportive, and my hips no longer hurt when I run. BUT, after the first run, of 8 miles, I developed a small blister on each instep - nothing that surprised me, after all - this was the area that had been lacking in support in the old trainers.

So before my next 8 mile effort, I put on one of these compeed blister plasters. These are super duper padded patches, that are silicon-like in appearance and feel, and act like a second skin, whilst claiming to allow the skin to heal properly underneath.

Now, my children do a lot of skiing, and after weeks on end in race-boots their feet are quite sore, and these blister plasters have been a Godsend for them. They are quite expensive, and work out at about 80p each plaster, but having seen their feet, and knowing that they provide some welcome relief, I thought I would use them on my own little blisters.

As my run progressed, it became apparent to me that the pain was increasing, and I could feel the blisters with every step I took. When I got back, and took my socks off, I was surprised to see that the plasters on both feet had slipped, allowing the original blisters not only to become exposed but to expand to something rather huge!

Running/jogging/plodding* (delete as applicable) was therefore off the agenda for 3 days, while the blisters settled down......and they did, a bit.

I went and bought more Compeed plasters, and bought the bigger size (they come in small and large) and checked that the plaster was covering the whole of my blister on each foot and was securely in place. On went my socks, on went my trainers, and out I went......10 miles this time (well, I have 26 miles to aim for in April........), and after about half a mile I could feel the blisters again.

On getting home, I assessed the damage and was horrified to see that the plasters had again slipped, allowing the blisters to become exposed and to grow. On one foot, the blister was literally 8 cm in diameter.......not a pretty sight! The skin had popped, and stuck itself to part of the compeed plaster, and it was a very delicate operation to remove it!

So, I know that perhaps I should not have gone so far in new trainers...........I know that perhaps I should not have expected my blisters to disappear so easily, but in my defence, the compeed plasters do say that they contain a unique Hydrocure system that allows the plaster to withdraw moisture from the skin providing optimum healing conditions. It certainly doesn't say "not suitable for use on blisters"...........

I am not quite sure why the blisters slipped so badly both times, and on both feet - my children don't have this problem when they are skiing, so I can only assume it is something to do with the amount my feet sweat while running? Or perhaps the constant "thud thud" as I "plod plod" shakes them so badly they gradually move!

Anyway, running/jogging/plodding is off the agenda again for the next few days while I attempt to get my feet in a reasonably good condition. Then I will decide whether to use these plasters again, or try some other sort of dressing.

I am going to give these plasters 3 out of 5......because although I have not had success with them, they have been excellent for my children, so I have to give them credit there.

Summary: They're not working for me!