Tips for Preventing and Treating Blisters

Anyone who exercises regularly knows that foot blisters are an unfortunate and uncomfortable part of being active that can literally stop you in your tracks. Luckily, a blister doesn't mean the end of your fun – by thinking ahead, you can prevent blisters. Start with these tips from our podiatrists, Dr. Joel Segalman and Dr. Stephen Lazaroff at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC. 

Treating Blisters 

• Stop and make an adjustment. When you notice a blister, it's important to stop whatever activity you're doing and decide how to treat it. Pushing through the pain can make your blister break or even become infected. By readjusting your footwear, you can help prevent your blister from becoming larger.

• Apply padding. Blister pads, moleskin or bandages are all great ways to prevent blisters and protect existing ones. Remember that not all pads stay in place – you may need to try several different types before finding the best one for you.

• Don’t pop it. The best situation for treating a blister is to keep it from popping, which can elevate the opportunity for infections. The majority of blisters will heal themselves given a few days, but you should pop it if the blister is large and it’s affecting your walking. 

Preventing Blisters 

If you're active and get blisters often, here are tips for preventing new blisters from developing. 

• Wear proper shoes. Shoes are often the offender when it comes to blisters forming. Steer clear of shoes that rub certain areas of your feet or that squeeze your feet. In this case, the right shoe can make all the difference to your feet.

• Choose better socks. Wear non-cotton socks that wick away moisture. Double up your socks when doing blister-inducing activities. The additional layer will provide extra padding. Socks that have two layers are more expensive, but they may help prevent blisters.

• Lubricate your feet before exercising. Friction produces blisters, so it stands to reason that decreasing it can help diminish blisters. Try rubbing petroleum jelly or other lubricants on problem areas on your feet so your feet will slide around rather than rubbing. 

• Keep the calluses. It can be tempting to pumice down or shave off unappealing calluses, but they actually protect your feet. 

• Keep your feet dry. In addition to changing your socks regularly, you can add talcum powder or corn starch to your socks and shoes to help soak up moisture.

• Cover the areas that are disposed to blistering. In the same way, you would cover up a blister, you can pad areas that are prone to blistering. The extra layer helps to prevent a blister from forming. 

If you would like more information regarding how you can prevent or treat blisters, Dr. Joel Segalman and Dr. Stephen Lazaroff at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC can help get. Call our office today to schedule a consultation; you can reach our Waterbury office at (203) 755-0489 or our Newtown location at (203) 270-6724.