Blisters

Blisters! We’ve all encountered these irritating, fluid-filled lesions that can crop up on our feet. Though blisters are benign, they can make simply walking a painful activity. Read on for tips on how to treat and prevent these pesky bubbles.

Causes

Blisters on the feet most commonly result from excessive friction and pressure. For example, if your sock is pinched between your shoe and your skin with repeated rubbing, a blister will develop.

Other causes of blisters include:

• Primary irritants
• Skin inflammation due to allergic contact with substances
  such as poison ivy or poison oak
• Sunburn
• Burns
• Insect bites
• Viral infections such as herpes or varicella
• Severe systemic conditions that require immediate
  medical attention
  

Symptoms

If a puffy, liquid-filled bubble appears on your foot, you most likely have a blister.

Treatment and Prevention

If you have already developed a blister, the best thing you can do is to keep the area clean and protected. Do not continue wearing the item that caused the blister in the first place.

If the blister feels painful, tepid soaks using a hypertonic solution or astringent, such as water and Epsom salts, may provide relief.

As tempting as it may be, avoid popping your blister! It is not necessary to "break" a blister, and if performed, should be done only under strict sterile conditions. In addition, "de-roofing" a blister is not recommended, as the skin provides a barrier to infection. Your best course of action is to leave the blister alone.

Small lesions will typically recede on their own, but massive blisters from burns need immediate medical attention, as fluid loss may be life-threatening.

As always, remember to wear comfortable shoes that fit properly to help stop blisters before they start.