Shoe insole could ease pain for those living with skin condition
People with the most common variant of epidermolysis bullosa endure severe blisters on their feet, even after short walks.
Irish researchers are on the verge of a breakthrough that could help ease or prevent the blistering and pain associated with an extremely painful skin condition.
People with the most common variant of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) endure severe blisters on their feet, even after short walks.
Scientists at Maynooth University in Kildare are creating a revolutionary shoe insole which cools the feet, potentially transforming the quality of life of those living with EB simplex (EBS) and their ability to move around.
The latest prototype was recently shown to the Meath-based Dawson family, including father and daughter Mark and Sophia, both of whom live with EB.
Mr Dawson said: “The new development could be of huge benefit to those who on the outside might look perfectly healthy, but suffer in silence because of the toll simple physical activity takes on our feet.”
Dr Linzi Ryan, research lead at Maynooth University’s Department of Design Innovation, said: “One of the things with EBS is that it can be a hidden condition because people may not see blisters on the feet or hands.
“But you have people who are not able to walk to the bus with their friends because their feet blister.
“It has a negative impact on their quality of life, on their social circles, on their confidence.”
Blistering is caused by a missing protein that binds the skin layers together, coupled with three factors, heat, moisture and abrasion.
As there is a high proportion of sweat glands in the feet with shoes and socks worn close to the skin, walking causes foot temperature to rise, causing blister formation.
The insole contains cooling fluid which maintains foot temperature at 32C, preventing swelling, and includes a separate heat exchanger outside the shoe, drawing heat away from the feet.
The device, which will also be available commercially, does not treat blisters but prevents them forming in the first place.
Debra, the national charity supporting the 300 people in Ireland with EB, has been told that some of them, in an effort to control sweating, place frozen sanitary towels in their shoes before short walks.
Fatma Ben Yousseff, head of research at Debra, said the new innovation is a “potential game changer for people with EB simplex” and was driven by the charity’s expert panel.
“Keeping feet cool is vital to prevent blisters from forming in the first place,” she said.
“People have told us about the awful restrictions it places on them walking around and the days of pain they suffer after attending something as simple as a concert or a football match, involving short walks.
“This is not a cure but it’s one less barrier for them.”
The research is being seed funded by Debra and EB Research in Austria.
If classified as a medical device, the insole will be more accessible to the EBS community.