Treat a Foot Blister
Foot blisters can occur due to friction between your feet and shoes. Blisters are usually not serious and can be treated at home with antibiotic creams and bandages. It is usually best to let a blister heal on its own, but very painful blisters can be popped with the right tools. If you notice any complications, like a blister that does not go away, make an appointment with your doctor for evaluation.
Contents
Steps
Reducing Pain and Complications
- Cover your blister. Foot blisters should be covered to reduce irritation and cut back on the risk of infection. Cover your blister with a soft dressing, like gauze or an adhesive bandage. If the blister is very sore, cut your dressing into a donut shape and place it around the blister to avoid putting pressure directly on it.
- Your dressing should be changed each day. Always wash your hands before touching the dressing and the area around the blister.
- Use antibiotic ointment. Antibiotic ointment helps prevent infections in a blister. You can buy antibiotic ointment at a pharmacy. Apply it to the blister as directed, especially before you put on your shoes or socks.
- Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the blister.
- Try powders and creams to reduce friction. Friction can make a blister worse and increase pain. In order to reduce friction on a foot blister, pick up a powder designed for your feet at a local pharmacy. Pour it into your socks before putting on your shoes to reduce pain.
- Not all powders work for everyone. If a powder causes your blister to become irritated, stop using it.
- Care for your feet while the blister persists. Take extra precautions to keep your feet comfortable while a blister is healing. Wear an extra pair of socks and loose-fitting shoes as the blister persists. This will cut back on pain and help the blister heal.
- You should also try to stay off your feet as much as possible while the blister is healing.
- Protect a burst blister from infection. Unless a blister becomes extremely painful, it's best not to drain it yourself. This can increase your likelihood of developing an infection. Let the blister's skin peel on its own. Avoid touching or irritating the blister to prevent it from popping prematurely.
Draining a Blister
- Wash your hands. In rare cases, you can pop an extremely sore blister on your own. You should only do this if the pain becomes debilitating. Before popping a blister, wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water. You should never touch a blister with dirty hands.
- Clean the blister. Before popping your blister, clean the area around it to reduce the risk of infection. Swab the blister with a cotton pad soaked in iodine. You can buy iodine at a local drugstore.
- Sterilize the needle. You will use a sewing needle to pop the blister, but this should be sterilized first to prevent infection. Wipe the needle down with rubbing alcohol, which you can purchase at a local drugstore. You can dab rubbing alcohol from a bottle onto a cotton swab or use rubbing alcohol pads.
- Puncture the blister. Take the needle and gently insert it into the blister. Puncture it several times, near the edge of the blister. Allow the fluid to drain out naturally while you leave the skin covering the blister in place.
- Apply an ointment. Once you've drained the blister, apply an ointment to it. You can use Vaseline or Plastibase, both of which can be purchased at a drugstore. Use a clean cotton swab to rub the ointment over the blister.
- Some ointments may irritate a blister. If you notice any signs of a rash, cease use of your ointment.
- Cover the blister. Place a piece of gauze or a bandage over the blister. This will protect it from infection while it heals. Change the dressing every day and, when you change it, add new ointment.
- Remember to wash your hands before touching your blister.
Seeking Medical Help
- See a doctor if you notice complications. Most blisters heal on their own. However, complications warrant a trip to the doctor. If you notice any of the following complications, make an appointment with your doctor:
- A painful, red, and hot blister
- Yellow or green pus
- A blister that keeps coming back
- Rule out underlying conditions. Most foot blisters are benign. However, some blisters can be caused by underlying conditions like chicken pox. Depending on your other symptoms, your doctor may want to run some tests to rule out underlying conditions before addressing your blister. If an underlying condition causes your blister, your doctor will advice you how to treat it.
- Follow your doctor's treatment plan. Depending on the cause of the blister, your doctor will form a treatment plan for you. Follow all of your doctor's instructions closely and ask your doctor any questions you have before leaving the office.
Preventing Blisters
- Avoid wearing the shoes that caused a blister. If your blister came in response to a new type of shoe, or a very uncomfortable shoe, stop wearing the shoes that caused it. Purchase shoes that leave your feet with some wiggle room and fit comfortably. Wearing the right shoes can prevent a future blister.
- Add moleskin to your shoes. Attach a small bit of moleskin to the inside of your shoes, particularly areas where your shoes rub against your feet. Moleskin can provide some padding and cut back on friction and irritation that causes blisters.
- Wear moisture-wicking socks. Moisture can cause blisters or make existing blisters worse. Invest in a pair of moisture-wicking socks. These will absorb sweat from your feet and cut back on blisters and other injuries.
Tips
- Don't walk on it for a while - it still will be sore as its healing, so if you do decide to get back to sports, make sure that it is fully healed. If it isn't painful, but still there, don't carry on with your sports! You'll end up hurting yourself, and probably get another blister.
Warnings
- Do not use a match to sterilize the instrument that you will use to pierce the blister.
