Women have been enduring foot pain due to high heeled shoes for centuries, but a couple of relatively new foot numbing sprays on the market could permanently eliminate the saying "beauty is pain" — at least in the foot world. What’s more, each foot numbing spray may be able to ease pain due to other foot issues like blisters, bunions and plantar fasciitis.
No Pain, Big Gain
In 2013, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Randal Haworth released a line of foot-care products meant to “temporarily alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with fashion footwear.” His line high heel pain eliminating numbing products includes a cucumber-scented Heel No Pain/Style and a peppermint-scented Heel No Pain/Active, the first being for foot pain associated with stilettos and the second meant for athletes experiencing painful foot issues.
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When sprayed on the foot, Heel No Pain/Style instantly creates a tingly, numbing effect that temporarily takes away pain from things like cramming your toes into pointy stilettos, teetering on the balls of your feet in super high spikes, and wrapping your feet in strappy sandals. The effect lasts several hours, making it perfect for long days of running around in heels and spot treatment for pained areas.
“Unlike getting an injection [in the balls of your feet], the spray doesn’t take away protective pain reflexes,” Haworth told Huffington Post of his product. “The pain simply dissipates.”
Still Standing
Another pain-reducing foot spray on the market is Still Standing, which contains natural products like menthol, arnica and aloe (which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and cooling sensation).
Creator Lyn writes on the product’s official website that women can now forget about suffering for beauty — especially when it comes to shoes. “From the time I was little and had to wear ugly orthotic oxfords, I’ve understood how shoes can make one feel,” she says of the inspiration behind Still Standing, which she created after landing a TV production job that required her to wear heels. “A topical formula that would help keep feet feeling cool, fresh and comfortable was needed.”
Unlike Heel No Pain/Style, Still Standing doesn’t numb the foot. Instead, the cooling ingredients work to reduce “that hot red, shoes-too-tight feeling that most women get after 40 minutes of standing in stilettos.”
The cooling effect of Still Standing lasts 1.5 to 4 hours and can be reapplied several times throughout the day or night, making it perfect for weddings, work events, dancing and any other activity that might lead to “stiletto suffering.”
But Are Foot Numbing and Cooling Sprays Safe?
Many experts consider Heel No Pain/Style and Still Standing to be safe products, but some doctors warn that they shouldn’t be used to eliminate foot pain caused by wearing high heels. Podiatrists believe foot pain is an indication that something is wrong, and it’s much safer to switch to more comfortable shoes rather than masking the discomfort with a pain-reducing spray. After all, ignoring your body’s warning signs could cause irrevocable foot damage. However, when used sparingly, Heel No Pain/Style and Still Standing can be powerful tools in any fashionista’s arsenal.