Don't Sing the Blister Blues

Whether your feet have suffered in the past from shoes that are too tight or from increasing your running mileage, we’ve all suffered from blisters at one time or another. Bothersome and often painful, they can set you on the sidelines if not treated properly. The dilemma as Shakespeare would describe it becomes to pop, or not to pop - that is the question.

Blisters on the feet may be caused by wet friction, sunburn, frostbite, and viral or fungal infections. Most frequently caused by wet friction, they are often the result of socks or shoes rubbing against an excessively moist foot. The areas most commonly affected are the ball of the foot, sides of the heel, and tips of the toes. Blisters are easily preventable by breaking in new shoes and wearing shoes that fit. Taking precautions such as wearing sweat wicking socks and breathable shoes while engaging in sports will keep blisters at bay as well. If prone to hyperhidrosis of the feet, use of an antiperspirant such as Neat Feat will help minimize friction by keeping them dry.

Ideally, treatment of a blister is best achieved by eliminating the cause. Blisters should not be intentionally popped if it can be helped, and measures to offload the pressure by surrounding them with moleskin may alleviate some of the discomfort. Popping a blister with an unsterile object may lead to infection, and there have been cases where infected blisters have led to cellulitis. The best thing to do is to leave it alone, especially if it is a blood-filled blister since these are even more prone to infection. Should a blister burst on its own and the underlying skin is not yet healed, protect the area with some antibiotic cream and a bandage.

If you find yourself with multiple blisters on your feet with no obvious cause, it’s important to refrain from commencing a "popping palooza." Podiatrists are trained to differentiate between friction blisters and vesicles caused by fungal infections. They will nail down the cause in no time. Ultimately when it comes to blisters, the best offense is a good defense.