How to Stop Shoes Rubbing My Little Toe or Pinky Toe – 16 Simple Tricks To Prevent Toe Blisters

I know that feeling of discomfort and pain when you get blisters on your pinky toe.

My readers usually ask me this question: “How to stop shoes rubbing my little toe?” And I always end up thinking what is the best possible solution to this problem.

The answer is rather simple. Either change your shoes or follow few simple hacks at your home.

Having a blister or a corn or even any other skin infection on a little toe is just not desirable for any man or woman.

Whether you work in an office or do your own business or whether you are a houseworker, it really doesn’t matter.

When your shoes rub with your little toe and when pinky toe starts getting hurt, you will not feel comfortable at all.

You will not be able to concentrate on your work that’s for sure.

To stop shoes rubbing your toes and hurting your pinky toe, you need to follow few simple precautions.

In this article I am providing some of the proven methods that will help you get rid of your little toe pain and help in preventing blisters, corns and any other skin infection on your baby toe.

16 Easy Methods to Stop Shoes Rubbing Your Pinky Toe (Little Toe)

1. Get a Shoe with Roomier Toe Box

Yes, wearing a shoe with narrow toe box is one of the prime reasons behind having toe pain and blisters on your little toe.

Shoes with narrow toe box do not allow comfortable toe movements.

Your little toe does not get enough space for wiggling. When the toe keeps bending in the same position for hours inside your shoes, that is when blisters and corns starts to appear.

The shoes with roomy toe boxes having enough width and depth; allow your toes comfortable movements and wiggling.

The breathable shoe with proper internal ventilation also plays a pivotal role in averting blisters and discomfort for your toes.

So, first priority is to change your shoes and get a shoe with roomier toe box.

Click Here to See the Best Walking Shoes for Men with Roomier Toe Boxes.

Click Here to View Best Walking Shoes for Women with Large Toe Boxes.

2. Make Your Shoe Lacing Tight

Even if you have proper shoes with large toe boxes, there is a room for errors.

There are some things that need to take care properly.

Once you get the shoe with sufficient toe box, its time to pay attention to its lacing system.

Some people have this habit of lacing their footwear loosely.

Now this seems a minor thing at the first look. But its not good for your toes.

Loose lacing of your shoes often leads to forward slipping of your feet.

And when this happens, your toes are automatically get jammed in the narrow toe part of your footwear.

And this further creates discomfort and pain for your pinky toes. This is a beginning of a blister and corn for your toes.

If you want to avoid this situation, just follow this simple preventive measure.

Always make sure that you tie your shoe laces properly and not tie them loosely ever.

Watch the following video to learn how to tie your shoe laces firmly.

3. Shoe with Flexible Upper is Preferable

The upper material of your footwear must also be flexible and supportive in nature.

Too tight upper can create pressure and discomfort for your little toe.

To evade this unwanted stress, you need to choose the shoe which has more flexible and comfortable upper.

Also, make sure that there are no seams on the upper where your toe is located.

This also causes discomfort and pain for your pinky toe.

4. Right Width and Size of Your Footwear is Equally Important

Most of issues of your little toes such as blisters and corns are caused due to misfit shoes.

If the shoe that you are wearing is too tight and uncomfortable to use, then it creates excess stress and strain on your foot.

Your little toe is also exposed to more pain and discomfort due to incorrect sized shoes.

This is the reason, you need to have a footwear that is comfortable in terms of its width, size and depth.

If you don’t know your actual foot width and length then I recommend you to watch the following video.

This video will help you understand how to measure your foot width and length with the help of a measuring tape.

5. Wear Thick Socks

One simple method to stop rubbing your shoes with your little toe is to use thick socks more regularly.

Thick socks provide more comfort and cushioning for your feet.

Very tight shoes at the toe area seems to stretch a bit when you start wearing thick socks on a regular basis.

Try this method and I think you will see that the pinky toe pain disappears in few days.

6. Try Hair Dryer Method

If your shoes are made from leather, nubuck or suede then only use this method.

Just heat the toe area which is too tight with the help of your hair dryer for 4-5 minutes.

Keep doing this every alternate day for few days.

Repeat this process till you get the desired stretching of your shoes.

Focus more on toe area of your shoe.

You will see that the rubbing of your shoes is being reduced significantly in few days of time.

7. Use Blister Cushions

Blister plaster or Blister Cushion is a fantastic little tool that can be used to prevent blisters happening to your toes.

Once fitted to your toes, it acts just like a second skin.

This tool is perfect even for people who are currently experiencing blisters on their toes.

They provide good comfort and cushioning for your toes.

The blister plaster performs a good job of protecting your toes while walking and running.

At the same time, they help immensely in preventing toe blisters.

I recommend you to make use of Compeed Blister Cushions if you currently have blisters on your pinky toe.

If you want to protect your little toes from blisters then also this is a good little tool to use.

8. Try Moleskin Padding Rolls

Moleskin padding rolls is another smart trick to prevent rubbing and avoid blisters for your baby toe.

A reliable moleskin padding role such as Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Padding Roll provides much better pain relief and blister prevention, when used on a regular basis.

Just apply it on your little toe and you can prevent friction with your shoe while walking and running in it.

This moleskin conforms to your foot easily and can easily fit inside your shoe, no matter what type of footwear you wear.

Some people even apply moleskin on the shoes directly where they touch your little toes.

People say that this method also helps in reducing the pressure and friction from the shoes.

9. Stretch Your Shoes in Toe Area

Too tight and inaccurate sized footwear cause more blisters and corns.

To prevent these blisters, you can decide to stretch your shoes.

This will avoid rubbing of your shoes with your skin and baby toe area.

There are several simple methods that you can try at your home.

Some of the most effective methods are using a reliable shoe tree and shoe stretcher.

With the help of efficient shoe stretcher and shoe tree, you can widen your shoes to certain extent.

Once you are able to stretch your shoes, then rubbing will automatically stop.

And you will not have a problem of blisters and corns anymore.

Check out 15 most effective and simplest methods you can try at your home to stretch your tight shoes.

10. Use Anti-Blister Balm

Anti-blister balm is helpful in preventing shoe friction with your toes. It helps in preventing foot blisters too.

It is also known as blister block stick friction blocker.

The best anti-blister balm I know which is safe and chemical free is Blister Blocker Balm.

Many medical practitioners recommend to use such products because they are non-greasy to apply on your skin, gentle and safe to use.

They create an invisible barrier which really helps in preventing shoe friction with your skin.

Thus they help in avoiding blisters and also safeguard your current skin blisters from further deterioration.

11. Try Gel Toe Cap and Gel Toe Protector

If you are badly suffering from foot blisters, corns and injured toenails, then you can prevent this pain and get faster relief for sure.

Just use a good quality gel toe cap and gel toe protector.

This is a kind of padded gel tube which you can wear on your pinky toe safely.

If your toe is misaligned or injured, then also you can use this remedy.

These gel toe protector instruments remain in the same position and provide all day relief.

It fits perfectly to your toe and prevent any kind of shoe friction and blisters.

In my opinion, Zentoes Gel Toe Protector is the best product you can use for this method.

It has got some great reviews and it offers the best cushioning and protection from rubbing as well as from blisters.

Watch the following video from Rebecca Rushton where you will learn more about how to use these gel toe protector items.

12. Apply Vaseline and Rubbing Alcohol to the Affected Area

Some people also apply Vaseline and rubbing alcohol to the internal surface of the shoe.

You can apply these readily available household items on the inside and outside area of your shoe where your toe is located.

This helps in softening the leather material of your shoe.

Regular application also makes the surface soft and it helps in stretching your footwear too.

Once stretched a little, your shoe will not cause any friction with your little toe and you will be able to prevent blisters.

13. Freeze Your Footwear to Stretch

I have already mentioned this method in depth as one of my 15 tricks to stretch any kind of shoe guide.

You will need to get some Ziploc bags for this method to work.

Fill this bag with water and close it well. Then place this water bag inside your tight shoe toe box.

Now put your shoe in the freezer. Put it for at least 1 night and then take them out.

You will see that due to freezing, your shoes tend to stretch a bit.

Repeat this process till you get the desired level of stretching.

Once you are able to stretch your new tight shoes properly, you will not have an issue of shoe rubbing your pinky toes.

The following video will show you how to actually freeze your shoes and widen them overnight.

14. Try The Shoe Stretcher Spray

Using a shoe stretcher spray is a great alternative method to try in this case.

If you feel that your toes are rubbing with your new tight shoes, you need to use such type of spray.

A spray such as Footmatters shoe stretcher spray works effectively to soften the material of your footwear.

You can use this spray to soften and stretch suede, leather, canvas, and nubuck material.

Too tight toe boxes of your shoes can easily be softened and widened when you regularly use this spray.

Once the shoe is widened, it will not rub against your little toes.

Thus, probability of having blisters and corns will automatically be reduced.

I recommend you to watch the following short video as well to learn how to use the above mentioned shoe stretcher spray on your tight shoes.

15. Try a Good Antiperspirant

Some people have naturally sweaty feet.

These folks perspire and sweat a lot when they walk and run in their shoes.

When your feet sweat a lot, the probability of shoe friction with your toes increases manifold.

And constant sweating leads to more friction which in turn intensifies the chances of more blisters and infection.

To avoid all these issues, you can try a simple remedy at your home.

A good quality antiperspirant lotion such as Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion will prevent excessive sweating.

If you have smelly feet and blisters then this is a great little remedy you can implement.

Apply it daily before you go outside your home. This will help you get rid of your smelly and stinky feet.

No excessive sweating means your toes will not have problem of shoe friction. Thus, you can avoid escalation of your blisters and corns.

16. Use Gel Toe Separator and Toe Spreader

One more cause of shoe rubbing your little toes is overlapping of toes.

Overlapping of your toes leads to more friction and blisters gradually.

A reliable toe separator and toe spreader such as Relax Tony Gel Toe Separator helps in spreading your toes evenly.

By wearing this toe separator, you can create some distance between your pinky toe and the surface of your shoe.

Thus, you eliminate any chances of shoe rubbing your toes.

This is the reason; many people use toe separators to prevent shoe friction and toe blisters.

Watch the following video to learn how to use these types of toe separators and toe spreaders to provide comfort and prevent blisters on your toes.

Final Thoughts

I have listed 16 easy to implement methods that will help you prevent rubbing of your shoes with your little toe.

There are still more methods that you can try. I will list the new methods in my forthcoming updates.

But these ones are more effective and easier to try at your home.

I hope you will try any one or two of these methods and will solve your toe rubbing issue quickly.

Best of luck!

References:

How to Avoid Blisters on Baby Toe

Summer Shoe Hacks to Stop Rubbing

Preventing Shoe Rubbing for Your Toes