How To Treat A Blister
To treat a blister, try one of the following options:
Molefoam with a doughnut hole: Cut a large enough hole for the blister then the surrounding foam should keep your sock from rubbing and further irritating the area. For extra protection, you can add a layer of Moleskin or tape over everything.
Blister bandages with pads and gels: These add a protective layer to prevent a blister from getting worse. Pads provide cushioning gels soothe the area by cooling it off.
Drain the blister, if necessary: In general, refrain from opening a blister to release the fluid: Youre creating a chance for infection and youre removing the protection and healing that the serum provides. However, to drain a large blister thats too painful to leave undrained, follow the steps below. If your blister pops on its own, then follow steps 4 and 5:
Blisters: When Not To Pop
There are several factors that determine how serious a blister is: its appearance and its cause.
Ensure there is no infection or ulceration going on. A large, red or painful growth needs to be seen by a doctor.
Have your blister checked by a doctor if you experience severe redness, swelling, soreness, pus, or even pain. Theres a good chance its become infected, and antibiotics may be needed to treat it.
How To Prevent Running Blisters
Want to avoid running blisters in the future?
Do the following.
Shoes are often the source of the blisters for most runners.
Begin by running in proper running shoes.
Ill-fitting trainers contribute to the formation of a blister, especially in the arches, under the toes, and on the ends of the toenails.
As a rule, leave enough wiggle room inside of the shoebut not too much.
Shoot for at least a thumbs width of space between your longest toes and the end of the shoe.
Whats more?
Try out different pairs before you make your mind.
Then test drive it before you take it out for a run, wearing the shoe around until you break them in.
This also helps soothe the pain of running bunions.
Choose Running Socks
Proper running socks offer extra support for your feet, stave off moisture, and can reduce the friction that causes those nasty blisters.
Start by avoiding cotton socks as these soak up sweat and moisture, increasing blister risk.
Instead, go for blister-free socks.
Id recommend synthetic, polypropylene, socks specifically designed for running, such as WrightSocks.
Other good synthetic choices include Teflon or CoolMax.
Running-specific socks help wick moisture away from your skin faster than cotton material.
Do you have a bad history of blisters?
Try doubling up on the socks to be double sure.
When you wear two pairs of socks, the rubbing occurs amid the socks instead of between the sock and your own skin.
For rainy runs , have an extra pair of socks to change into.
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Relieving Pain And Irritation
Tip: Change the bandage daily to reduce your risk of getting an infection.
How To Prevent Blisters
Blisters develop to protect damaged skin and help it heal. They’re mostly caused by friction, burns and skin reactions, such as an allergic reaction.
Blood blisters appear when blood vessels in the skin have also been damaged. They’re often more painful than a regular blister.
If you often get friction blisters on your feet or hands:
- wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes
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Running Blisters How To Treat And Prevent Foot Blisters During A Run
Running with a foot blister is a real pain but an integral part of a runners life.
But, the good news is, a blister is no reason to retire your running shoes for good.
There are many measures you can take to not only treat them but to also prevent painful blisters from plaguing your runs.
In this article, youll get the full scope on the causes of blisters when running, how to safely treat them, and how to prevent them for good.
Sounds great?
Run long enough, and blisters are bound to pop up.
Theres no way around that.
Whats a running blister?
Blisters are the annoying little bumps caused by continuous friction, forcing the outer layers of the skin to rub together, break apart, and fill with gross fluid.
Anything that makes the friction worse exacerbate running blisters, including improper running shoes , bad running form, and foot anomalies, like hammertoes, bunions, and heel spurs.
Blister-prone areas in runners include the arches, the soles of the feet, and the toe as these areas often rub against running shoes in a continuous, non-stop manner during a runner.
How To Treat Hot Spots
STOP – If you notice any foot pain or discomfort while youre hiking, STOP IMMEDIATELY, find a place to sit, and take off your shoes to assess the situation. It takes a little time to do this and can be annoying to stop, but this simple step will easily save you tons of time and pain in the long-run.
TAPE – If a blister hasnt formed yet, clean and dry the area, then cover the hot spot with a thin layer of duct tape to reduce friction. Make sure the duct tape is affixed as smoothly to your skin as possible.
LUBE – If the skin is red and raw or a blister has partially formed, use antibiotic ointment on it and then cover the hotspot with a blister bandage, Bandaid, or Moleskin before applying tape.
LEAVE – If the hot spot doesnt get worse, try to leave the tape in place until you return home and can remove it very carefully to avoid injuring the skin.
you can use moleskin and kt tape to treat a blister on trail.
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These Items Make Up Your Blister
- Spenco 2nd Skin in all shapes and sizes.
Every spring I run into Appalachian Trail thru-hikers who are hiking in their camp shoes usually Chaco sandals, Crocs, or similar. Invariably, they could no longer hike wearing their boots or trail shoes due to blisters. Their goal then becomes hobbling along to the next zero day in town so they can stop hiking long enough to treat foot blisters. In this article, we will teach you how to treat blisters on your feet so you can back to hiking on the hiking trail in no time.
Whether you are going backpacking, trekking, or hiking, you cant give it your all if youre in painand nothing puts a damper on your outdoor performance like getting a blister a few miles into your adventure. Studies in wilderness and environmental medicine have shown that friction blisters will affect over 50 percent of active backpackers and hikers.
How To Treat A Blister On Your Foot
Blisters often develop on the feet. If not treated early, they can cause discomfort and repeated blisters. You may get the urge to pop in and get it over with but this is not advised unless it is too big and painful. In that case, your doctor could puncture it with a sterile need to drain the excessive fluid. If it pops at home, smoothen the skin flap that remains and wash the foot with soap and water. It is important to embrace home treatments for blisters below recommended by experts from Rogers Foot and Ankle Institute.
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How To Properly Treat A Foot Blister Or A Blister On Toe:
- Wash the affected area surrounding the blister with water and a disinfecting soap. If the blister is popped, do not remove the broken skin.
- Cut a hole in a piece of protective padding such as moleskin or felt, just a little larger than the foot blister. This helps cushion the injured area from additional friction or pressure.
- Gently cover the blister with protective padding. Make sure that any adhesive affixes to the healthy skin around the wound and not directly on the blistered skin.
- If the foot blister is open, apply antibiotic ointment over the damaged skin and cover it with a piece of sterile gauze.
- At least once a day, remove the dressing carefully and inspect the wound. If the foot blister shows no signs of infection, repeat the above steps with a new dressing.
Preventing Blisters On Your Heel
Tip: Talcum powder also helps prevent fungus, such as athlete’s foot.
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Treatment Technique : Moleskin Donut Pad For Closed Blisters Or Hot Spots Stage I & Ii Blisters
The hot spot will often be gone when you wake up the next day a little blister will still be tender, so you may to want to cover the spot with moleskin and tape to prevent further issues. For a little blister youll definitely want to use moleskin for a few days.
One way not to treat a foot blister? Popping it.
How Can I Prevent A Blister
You have several options for preventing blisters. Most involve preparation and caution. Preventing blisters depends on the type of blister:
Friction blisters: Friction blisters result from repeated rubbing. To prevent them:
- Make sure your shoes fit well and do not rub.
- Break in new shoes before wearing them for extended periods.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands if you plan on doing a lot of manual labor.
- Wear properly fitting clothes to prevent chafing that can lead to blisters on other parts of your body.
Blood blisters: These blisters usually develop when something pinches part of your skin. They typically happen on the hands. Its harder to prevent them, but take these steps:
- Stay alert when using tools or things that can pinch.
- Wear gloves when working with pruners, strong pliers or in other tight situations.
Heat blisters: Heat blisters can result from a burn or when your skin gets too hot as you recover from frostbite. To prevent them:
- Use sunscreen if you plan to be in the sun for an extended period.
- Be extra careful when handling hot items or working around a fire.
- Wear weather-appropriate clothing to avoid frostbite. If your skin gets frostbitten, slowly raise your body temperature using lukewarm water.
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When To See A Doctor
Anytime a blister becomes discolored, extremely inflamed, worsens, or does not heal after a few days, someone should speak to a doctor.
Blisters that are yellow, green, or purple have often become infected and require medical attention. Abnormally colored blisters may also be a symptom of more serious, underlying health conditions, such as herpes.
A doctor may drain infected, persistent, or extremely disabling blisters in their office. They will use a sterilized scalpel or needle and usually take a small sample of the blister contents for testing.
Often, topical or oral antibiotics will be prescribed to treat an existing infection and prevent further infection from occurring.
Most blisters that develop on the feet are caused by a combination of rubbing and pressure. Some further factors are known to increase the likelihood of friction blisters.
Moisture, heat, and pressure all weaken the skin and make it more vulnerable to tearing. Ill-fitting socks or footwear tend to rub the skin raw at points of contact.
Risk factors for blisters on the feet include:
For areas prone to blistering, applying moleskin or foot tape and talcum powder before an activity may reduce the chances of new wounds. Some of these products are available for purchase online, including foot tape.
Some bandages also have empty holes, that can help cushion delicate skin or freshly healed skin.
Sole inserts or socks that offer extra padding can also help absorb and reduce pressure on the feet.
How To Treat Foot Psoriasis
Foot psoriasis may be treated with the following medications and therapies:
- Occlusive steroid therapy involves covering the foot with plastic after applying steroid cream.
- Oral retinoids are drugs taken by mouth that slow skin cell growth
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors are drugs that suppress the immune response.
- uses a special band of UV light to slow skin cell growth.
Psoriasis Doctor Discussion Guide
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What Is A Foot Blister
A blister on your toe or foot is a collection of fluid underneath the top layer of theskin .
It is a defense mechanism, or “natural bandage”, created by the body to help repair damaged skin.
The picture shows what a blister on pinky toe can look like.
How To Deal With A Blister When Running
This article was medically reviewed by Troy A. Miles, MD. Dr. Miles is an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Adult Joint Reconstruction in California. He received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2010, followed by a residency at the Oregon Health & Science University and fellowship at the University of California, Davis. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Association, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the North Pacific Orthopaedic Society. This article has been viewed 59,815 times.
Blisters are annoying and painful, especially if you’re trying to run. They are, however, easy to treat at home. Whether you feel a blister coming on or you already have one, you can be back to running in no time with the right first aid. There are also lots of easy ways to reduce your risk of developing blisters in the future.
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