Blisters - what are they?

Blisters are due to an excess of pressure coupled with rubbing. If the bonding between the layers of skin near the surface are overloaded, they get overstretched and the layers separate. The gap between the layers fills up with plasma in an attempt to protect the damaged area inside. This is a blister. Forget all other excuses and explanations: a blister is a natural protective mechanism of your body which tells you that you have mistreated your feet. Your body is trying to tell you something: are you listening?

The cause of the blisters shown to the right is actually well documented in a review of some sandals published at BackpackGearTest by a tester going under the name of Emma Eyeball. She was kind enough to allow these pictures she took of her feet to be used here. Please ignore the dirt on here feet: she was wearing the sandals without socks to try to reduce the pressure on her feet. Bluntly, the sandals were too narrow.

Bruises - what causes them?

Aching feet are caused by the joints inside your feet being under too much pressure while working. The tissue, muscles, tendons and cartilage between the bones get bruised, and bruises hurt. Blisters under the ball of the foot often show the joints in there are being squeezed too much and overheating, and probably being bruised inside. Bruised toe-nails show that your toes are too close to the front of the toe-box, and rubbing ever so lightly - Chinese torture style. Your body is trying to tell you something: are you listening? (And have you trimmed your toenails recently and checked the length of your footwear?)