Whether your sport of choice is roller skating, hockey, figure skating or rollerblading, skating with a blister is uncomfortable and often painful. When skates rub against the skin on the foot, your body creates its own natural, fluid-filled cushion in the form of a blister. Proper treatment and care of a blister speeds up healing time, allowing you to get back to your normal skating routine more quickly. Talk to your doctor before trying any at-home care to treat your blisters, especially if you have health conditions like diabetes.
Causes
Blisters develop when a rough seam, hard leather or the corner of your skate rubs against the skin on your ankle or foot as you skate. Blisters look like small, white fluid-filled sacs on the surface of your skin; they often feel painful to the touch. Wearing the same skates on a regular basis could increase blister irritation, causing it to puncture or become infected. Proper blister care is essential; it reduces healing time and prevents the area from becoming infected.
Treatment
Although a blister might heal on its own without any treatment or care, covering and cleaning the blister helps the area heal more quickly and prevents it from becoming inflamed, irritated and infected. Do not pop a blister unless it is causing irritation while you skate. If you must pop it, carefully puncture the bottom corner of the fluid-filled pocket with a needle sterilized in rubbing alcohol. To prevent infection, apply a dab of antiseptic cream and place a sterile bandage on top.
Prevention
If your skates are too loose or too tight, you might continue getting blisters in the same area of your foot each time you go skating. If this is the case, get a skate fitting with a professional at a sporting goods store or specialty skating store to ensure that the skates you wear fit properly. If you are unable to buy new skates, wear two pairs of thin socks to prevent the inside of the skate from rubbing against your skin. Applying petroleum jelly to the inside of the skate softens up the leather, preventing the area from irritating your foot.
Warning
Although a blister is generally not serious, a blister that is ignored or not cleaned properly may become infected. If the blister is filled with blood, or a yellow, green or white pus, it has become infected. Sometimes red ring forms on the skin around the blister, or the area feels sensitive to the touch. If your blister looks or feels infected, consult your doctor immediately for further treatment, such as a prescription medication to reduce infection and speed up healing.
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