Frankfurt  – When the warm weather comes around in summer, it is common to go barefoot or do completely without socks while wearing shoes.

But wearing shoes without socks can also lead to blisters. “When that happens you should immediately switch over to the right footwear,” advises Andreas Sanders, chairman of Germany’s Podiatry Association.

Sanders’ first piece of advise is not to attempt to stick a plaster over the blister and return the foot to the same shoe as squeezing the foot back into the shoe will just aggravate the blister.

Blisters occur when the skin comes into friction with shoes that are too tight. To avoid that happening it is very important to wear correctly fitting shoes.

Footwear should be spacious for the feet and not have heels higher than four centimetres.

If you’re planning to spend the day window shopping or walking it is a good idea to have a few extra plasters with you in case conditions become warm and your feet swell.

If a blister does form, Sanders says the best thing is to quickly remove the shoe to relieve pressure on the foot. Then disinfect the blister and cover it with a clean plaster.

That will prevent the blister from becoming infected. “An infection together with sweat is not a very comfortable prospect,” he says.

Good foot care means regularly using a cream, “not just to prevent blisters from happening, but to keep your feet in general good condition.”

If you are planning a longer trip to town you can also take along something to cool them down such as a footspray that contains camomile, eucalyptus or menthol. (dpa)