Blister Protection en Pointe

Not only do blisters hurt, they can cause larger problems through infection and accommodation injuries. Test out these products to protect against friction in your pointe shoes.

While our feet must callus to a certain extent, allowing us to advance in pointe training, taping is not a sign of weakness. People with thinner skin or sweatier feet are incredibly blister prone through no fault of their own. Protecting repeat problem areas is just smart, whether you are a beginner or advanced dancer.

Leuko Tape

Marketed as rigid strapping tape for sports and hiking, Leuko Tape is my top recommendation. Not only does it last longer than Band-Aids or foam tape, it is actually much cheaper. I use Leuko Tape on my heels for every pointe class and it easily stays in place for three days, even with showering. 

Note, however, that you may need gel squares or gauze between sensitive skin and Leuko Tape. Never place Leuko Tape directly over a blister (speaking from experience). 

If you have tape residue built up on your skin from Leuko Tape (or any other adhesives, such as Kinesiotape), eye makeup remover works well to gently remove it. 

Gel Squares 

2nd Skin, 2Toms, and Medagel sell 200 packs of these hydrogel patches. These gels squares make all of the difference in your comfort en pointe. Be sure to tightly seal the container and consider storing in the refrigerator when not in use, as this maintains the moisture. 

While it is nice to tape the feet before ballet class rather than during class transitions when you may be pressured to put your shoes on quickly, it does not generally work to apply these gels ahead of time. As wonderful as they feel in the shoe, they are prone to squishing out from the tape's edges with time and movement. 

Lastly, I do not recommend the Gaynor Minden Dancer Dots, as they lack the thick gel indicative of other brands. 

Medical Cover Roll 

As much as I love Leuko Tape, for small blisters or hot spots, on my little toes I prefer Nuanchu Medical Cover Tape to hold my gel squares in place. It is a thin and breathable tape that stays firmly in place all throughout pointe class. Then, it can be easily removed and thrown away with the gel squares.

For tips and tricks on caring for troublesome feet, visit the Dancing Feet Digital Guide.