Boots rubbing against scar

[im_sk8_mad]

So Ive recently gotten back on the ice after a year away and during that time away i injured myself and needed stitches The first picture is of the scar. Its in a terrible spot and sits right at the top of the side of my boots and it rubs and puts pressure on the scar tissue and it hurts quit a lot. The second picture is where the scar sits with my boots, its circled because its a bit hard to see. Is there anything anyone an recommend to help alleviate the pressure on that area?

[Bill_S]

I'd take a look at Bunga pads. They make an ankle sleeve that might work for you.

Search this site for the keyword "bunga", and you'll find lots of references to them - especially when breaking in stiff, new skates. That's when I need them.

In the search, you'll also find mention of some of Bunga's competitors too for alternative products.

It seems to me that there was a recent thread in which someone had a similar issue, but I can't find it now. Even the "bunga" search term didn't locate it, but maybe the poster will chime in.

[im_sk8_mad]

Ive heard a little about bunga pads. Ill have a look into them. Thanks =]

[AgnesNitt]

I had boot burn and here's how I laid on the ankle tube to cover it up. It would work for the OP.

http://icedoesntcare.blogspot.com/2018/09/skating-boot-burn.html

[tstop4me]

The major competing brand to Bunga is Silipos, which is not marketed specifically for skating but for medical applications.  It's about half the price of Bunga:  You can buy a 10" long Silipos ankle sleeve and cut it in half to get a pair of 5" long ankle sleeves.  Here's a previous thread that discussed a comparison of the two:

http://skatingforums.com/index.php?topic=7684.msg92052#msg92052

Note:  Both brands of ankle sleeves have a gel layer covered with a woven mesh on the outside.  I wear the Silipos with the gel side directly against the skin (I apply skin lotion first on my foot, ankle, and portion of leg above the ankle), and wear my sock over the sleeve.  The main reason I wear them is because my socks have ribs above the ankle.  When I lace up the boot, the ribs cut into my leg.  The gel is non-woven and has no pressure points.   Different people have different preferences:  some turn them inside out and wear the woven mesh against the skin because they don't like the feel of the gel.  Yet others wear the sleeves over socks.  See what's most comfortable for you.

[im_sk8_mad]

Thanks for all the information. Ill definately go and check my pro shop for bunga pads and my local chemist to see if they have anything similar that might not cost a kidney haha.

Thanks everyone =]

[fsk8r]

Another recommendation for the gel sleeves. My boots cut the skin at about the point where your scar is (not sure what's rubbing - I suspect it's a seam). The gel sleeves completely stop this happening so they should help you. As I need two sleeves, I just buy silipos and cut them in half. They last ages.
I wear them over my tights as it means I can just put them on as my feet go in the boot.

[Query]

Too bad you injured yourself! Hope you are better.

I've sometimes used thick fleece socks, of the type that is sold in ski stores, and camping stores. They certainly make boots more comfortable - but they only work if the boots are loose enough for them to fit.

I can't really tell, but I'm guessing from the picture that you can't fit thick socks inside your boots. Also, since you are wearing no socks, that you might be one of the people who feel they lose control of the blade in thick socks, or maybe any socks. I don't think that's really true if the boot fits evenly all over, so pressure is distributed equally over most of the boot, in effect creating a boot liner. But I don't do any fancy skating, so I might be wrong. Also, modifying a boot to fit evenly all over involves some effort.

That said, there are markings on your feet that suggest you have an uneven fit - some parts look red, and I'm not sure, but some parts may be calloused, both signs that the boot might be sliding against some parts of your foot. I try to modify my shoes and boots so they have no observable effect on the feet. (Or maybe the injury and/or stitches created those marks, or they came from something else.)

Anyway, I think any of the solutions mentioned would work, and would be great solutions.

I wonder if you could just take any cheap gauze bandage, or a piece of moleskin from the dollar store, and cut a hole in it around the scar. Then the boot would touch the bandage, but not the scar. Very cheap, but might not last as long.

I want a boot on which you push a button, and it instantly molds to fit perfectly all over.

P.S. Whatever technique you use to avoid rubbing or cutting against your foot, if your skin is of such nature that scars never go away, there are skin surface treatments sold over the counter at drug stores to remove scar tissue. Assuming of course that your doctor says that is OK - obviously you don't want to weaken the stitches if they are still needed.  BTW, I haven't tested those treatments, as I don't need them.

[im_sk8_mad]

Thanks =]

Im trying all kinds of different things and am already trying scar creams.

[AgnesNitt]

You can also try moleskin. The trick to this is to cut the moleskin so you  cut a hole in the middle of the moleskin patch so the hole is over the scar. The moleskin will not touch the scar, but just for, a little wall around the scar. This reduces the boots ability to press on to the scar.

If that isn't enough, you can put something like a gel bandaid, or a gel callus protector over the moleskin layer.

KT tape over the mole skin may work too.

Sometimes there aren't answers, you may have to experiment.