Band Aid Friction Block

Band Aid Friction Block, also sometimes referred to as blister block, is a useful product for both athletes and people who wear sandals or formal shoes that consistently rub on their feet. It helps to reduce this rubbing to prevent painful blisters from forming by creating an invisible barrier between the shoes or socks and the skin.

Band Aid Brand, which is owned by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., has been manufacturing wound care products for over 80 years. The brand is so popular that it has become a household name. Friction Block is one of Band Aid's newer products, developed in the late 2000s. It was introduced as an Advanced Protection product, designed with the latest technology in mind.

Friction Block is a solid lubricant that comes in a stick dispenser, similar to the one used for stick deodorants. The dispenser holds 0.34 ounces of the product, making it a smaller size than a typical deodorant stick. Friction Block is made of a simple formula, containing only the following three ingredients:

• Hydrogenated vegetable oil
• Cetyl alcohol
• Fragrance

The vegetable oil provides the Block with its slickness, which allows shoes to slide against the skin instead of digging into it. The cetyl alcohol provides a waxy consistency, which helps the Block stay put on the skin and prevents the oil from wiping off. The fragrance provides a mild fresh scent that will not transfer to clothing or shoes.

Some may worry when they first see this product because it is white when it is in the stick applicator. However, once it dries it becomes clear and is not conspicuous, unlike an adhesive bandage. To apply the product, all a person has to do is turn the wheel at the bottom of the stick to dispense about a centimeter of Block. Then he or she can roll it onto areas of the skin that are prone to blisters.

While this product is designed for the feet, there’s no reason why it can’t be applied to fingers, calves and other blister-prone parts of the body, as long as it is not applied near the eyes, nose, mouth or other sensitive areas.

Once the blister block is in place and forms a kind of waxy barrier, the user can put on his or her shoes or other articles of clothing without having to worry about the color transferring. The product is also not slippery, even if applied to the bottom of the feet.

Band Aid Friction Block is easy to find, both online and in most chain grocery stores and drug stores. A few of the places to buy it over the Web are:

• Amazon.com – Amazon sells Friction Block in a pack of three sticks through a third-party seller.
• Drugstore.com – This site sells the product in single packages only.
• AmericaRx.com – This site also sells the product in single packages. It usually ships within 24 hours.

People with skin allergies should use caution when trying Friction Block, applying it first to an area of the skin smaller than the size of a dime to test for reactions. If skin becomes red or swells, they should stop using the produce immediately and contact a doctor. This product is not appropriate for use on broken skin or skin that is already blistered. It is not a treatment for blisters; it is only a preventative measure.

Be careful when storing this product, especially during the summer months. It can melt if it is exposed to temperatures above 86 degrees. This makes it ideal for purse storage but not for leaving in a vehicle’s glove box.

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