1. Treat a Friction Burn
Most blisters start when clothing or shoes rubs over the skin, causing a friction burn. When you notice a tender red spot, cover it with a padded bandage. This provides some protection and cushion that may prevent the blister from becoming worse.
2. Wear the Right Size Shoes
Blisters can pop up anywhere, but they often occur on the feet. Make sure you wear properly fitting shoes to prevent blisters from appearing. Buy the correct shoe size by going shoe-shopping later in the day, as your feet tend to swell as the day goes on. Your feet will continue to grow throughout your life. Your size 11 foot can turn into a size 12 by the time you reach middle age, so buy shoes in the next size up when this happens.
3. Dry Feet, Blister-Free Feet
Blisters appear most often on wet feet. If your feet get wet from sweat or from hiking across a creek, or you have snow inside your boot, change to dry socks and dry shoes whenever possible to prevent blisters.
4. Drain the Blister
When blister pain strikes, the best choice is to rest the area by keeping pressure off the blister, but that's not always possible. As long as you don't see blood, you can drain the lymph fluid trapped under the top layer of skin to decrease pain. After cleaning the blister and a needle with rubbing alcohol, poke a hole or two on the edges of the blister to allow the fluid to drain off. Try to keep the top of the skin in place as it helps protect against infection. Apply some antibiotic ointment and a loose covering. Air helps blisters heal. If you see pus or redness, you may have an infection that a doctor needs to check. People with diabetes should talk with their doctor before trying to self-treat a blister.
5. Be a Proactive Blister-Buster
Experienced hikers and runners will tell you to never wear new shoes before a race or cross-country hike. Break in your new shoes first. That means you should wear new shoes for an hour or so, and then gradually increase the wearing time. This allows your feet to adjust to the shoes, and the shoes to take form around the shape of your foot. Give feet added protection if you're prone to blisters. Cushioned socks or moleskin can put an extra layer between your feet and the shoes. Some marathon runners swear by taping problem areas such as the heels, instep and toes with zinc oxide tape. Others prefer blister plaster, which works as a second skin. Warm it up in your hands before applying for better adhesion.
