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Blister Prevention & Treatment
Friction Blisters are the bane of backcountry travelers everywhere. Most can be prevented with good footwear and foot hygiene. Additional protection can also come from applying Tincture of Benzoin to blister prone areas and "hot spots" before they blister and covering the area with flexible medical tape. Tincture of Benzoin is an alcohol-based plant product that helps tape adhere at the same time it toughens and protects your skin. Tincture of Benzoin comes in one and two ounce narrow mouth round Nalgene bottles; both types of bottles fit into the medium 4-loop velcro strips in our first aid packs. If you already have a blister and want to continue hiking: remove the lid, clean thoroughly, and then apply a hydrogel pad over the wound for protection and pain relief. They come as five pre-cut dressings with self-stick backing. Once you have a blister these are the best dressings to use to relieve pain and promote healing. We recommend using them in combination with an ENGO patch. Of course, prevention is better. ENGO is the ultimate in blister prevention. ENGO patches are teflon coated nylon with a strong adhesive backing that reduce 80% of the shear forces that cause friction blisters. We've field tested it and found it to be amazing. If you have chronic problems with blisters, you need ENGO. ENGO is applied to directly to your boot (NOT your skin) where you get blisters (or where a hot spot exists) and will remain in place for weeks. Simply peel off to remove. ENGO is available in two 2 x 3 inch rectangles per package (cut for a custom fit), four oval patches per package, or two heel patches per package. ENGO Testimonials.
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