Foot blisters commonly occur when your skin continuously rubs against something, causing friction. New shoes, hot weather or a new activity are often the cause. Burns and frostbite are also causes of blisters, reports FirstAidKits.org. When a blister forms, clear, blood-filled or pus-containing fluid bubbles develop, which can be quite painful. Because foot blisters can become infected, it is important to treat them quickly and correctly.
Cleansing
The first step in caring for a foot blister is to keep the blister clean. Wash both your hands and the blister with warm, soapy water. Next, apply iodine or rubbing alcohol to the blister. After the iodine or rubbing alcohol dries, apply an antibiotic ointment. You should then cover a small blister with a bandage but a large blister should be covered with a gauze pad.
An unbroken blister reduces the risk of infection, according to MayoClinic.com. Therefore, do not puncture a blister, unless it is preventing you from walking or is too painful.
Draining
If the blister is painful or is preventing you from walking normally, MayoClinic.com recommends draining the blister's fluid while leaving the skin film covering the blister alone. To drain the blister, first swab it with rubbing alcohol or iodine. Swab a sharp needle with alcohol as well to sterile it. Using the sterilized needle, puncture the blister near the edge in a few places but do not scrape the overlying skin. Allow the fluid to drain, then apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage or gauze pad. After a few days, use sterilized scissors or tweezers to remove any dead skin. Again, apply the antibiotic ointment and bandage.
If any signs of infection, such as redness, pus, pain or skin warm to the touch are present, contact your health care professional as soon as possible.
Preventing
Preventing a foot blister is easier--and less painful--than treating one. Make sure your socks and shoes fit well to avoid any friction against your foot. Tight fitting shoes or socks are more prone to causing foot blisters. Because moisture exasperates blister formation, keep feet dry and do not wear wet shoes or socks, reports FootHealthCare.com. Try wearing two thin pairs of cotton socks coupled with a bit of foot powder between them to reduce friction, suggests FootPainExplained.com. Additionally, consider purchasing special athletic socks that protect critical foot areas from friction and rubbing. If you detect an area of your foot that is sore, place a bandage or athletic tape over it to prevent a full-fledged blister from forming.
