4 Tips to Treat Blisters on Your Feet
A blister doesn’t have to be very large to create severe pain and discomfort, so treating blisters early or preventing them altogether is an excellent strategy to avoid unnecessary complications and increased healing time. The perfect scenario for the formation of blisters is a combination of heat, friction and moisture that occurs inside your footwear when you are running, hiking, and playing sports, but blisters can also happen while wearing poorly fitting street shoes and tight pumps.
4 steps you can take to help treat and prevent blisters:
- Properly fitted footwear—Tightly fitting or loose fitting shoes can likewise cause blistering to occur. Always make sure your footwear is properly fitted and that it is appropriate for the activity which will help to avoid excess friction and pressure.
- Sock choice is very important—The wearing of moisture wicking fabrics to help prevent blister formation is essential. Wear a thinner liner sock in addition to your regular sock to decrease rubbing and friction.
- Treat any potential hot spots ahead of time—If you are prone to developing blisters in certain areas of your feet, you can pretreat your feet with moleskin or liquid bandage. Orthotic inserts can be used to isolate areas of the foot that are susceptible to blistering.
- Early treatment is essential—Never deliberately pop a blister, since that just removes or ruptures the protective skin. Treat an already popped blister with an antibiotic and cover with a bandaid. Hollow round pads can also be used to isolate the blister without irritating it.
If a blister becomes infected or if you're concerned with the frequency of blister formation on your feet, see your podiatrist. At E.J. Nemet Podiatry in Twinsburg, E.J. Nemet, DPM treats a variety of foot and ankle conditions, including sports injuries, pediatric foot problems, diabetic foot complications, nerve disorders, and toenail and skin conditions. With advanced technologies and a dedicated staff, Dr. Nemet provides expert and compassionate care to patients in the Twinsburg and Beachwood areas. To contact us or to schedule an appointment, please call (234) 212-9940.