How to Prevent and Control Blisters on Your Feet

Like most folks, you’ve likely had at least one experience with blisters on your feet. It probably happened when you started wearing a new pair of shoes or insisted on wearing footwear that never fit correctly and irritated your skin every time you wore them.

No matter how or why you developed a foot blister, you know that they can be painful and debilitating. They can make every step an excruciating ordeal, they’re prone to infection, and they are unattractive. As with any health issue, the best cure for foot blisters is to prevent them from developing in the first place.

Blister Prevention

The key to preventing blisters is to prevent the chafing that leads to their development. Here are three ways you can keep chafing to a minimum and reduce the chances of getting a foot blister

  • Wear good socks and shoes. Protection equals prevention. Choose nylon or moisture-wicking socks and wear two pairs if needed. Equally important, make sure your shoes fit correctly and are neither too loose or too tight
  • Use soft bandages. For areas like your ankle that are starting to chafe, securely apply an adhesive moleskin or other soft bandage.
  • Apply powder or petroleum jelly to chafing areas. These products can help reduce friction when your skin rubs together with your footwear.

Blister Control

If, despite all your preventative efforts, you are hobbled with a painful foot blister, you’ll want that blister to heal up as soon as possible. Here are three ways to control the problem that will help get you back on comfortable feet:

  • “Tent” the blister. Put a bandage over your blister to reduce the chances of infection and reduce irritation from shoes or socks. But be careful not to suffocate the blister; it needs air to heal properly. Allow the blister breath while still protecting it by “tenting” the bandage over the blister. Apply the bandage’s adhesive parts closer together than you usually would so that its cushion forms a protective tent over the wound. When you are at home with your shoes off, take the dressing off, apply some antibacterial ointment and let the blister breathe even more.
  • Apply green tea. Green tea’s anti-oxidant qualities make it much more than a soothing beverage. Green tea can reduce inflammation and put an extra charge into the body’s healing powers. To treat a blister, don’t drink the tea, but instead apply it directly to the blister itself. Brew three bags of green tea in boiling water, add a teaspoon of baking soda, let the brew cool, and soak your blister in it. If the blister is an area too difficult to soak, instead soak some gauze in the brew and then apply the dressing to the blister.
  • Don’t mess with it. Don’t pick at your blister or you increase your risk of infection. Instead, let the blister pop on its own or use a sterilized sewing needle to open the blister near its lowest part so the fluid can drain. Cover it with antibiotic ointment and a bandage so it can safely heal.

Call the Hollywood, Florida Foot and Ankle Specialists at JAWSpodiatry

If you have a chronic problem with blisters or have a blister that has become infected, we can help. The experienced and skilled podiatrists at JAWSpodiatry in Hollywood, Florida are a growing team of exceptional medical professionals who offer the highest degree of care in a welcoming, comfortable environment. Please contact us today at (954) 922-7333 to schedule a consultation.

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