How to Treat & Prevent Painful Blisters on Your Feet
Excessive pressure and rubbing from your footwear can cause painful blisters to develop on your feet. Your inflamed skin responds to the pressure caused by poorly fitting shoes and repetitive motions from exercise, work, and sports by secreting fluid under the surface layers to help soothe the inflammation. You can avoid many instances of blister formation by wearing shoes that fit correctly with orthotics and treating hotspots before they worsen.
Some easy methods for treating and preventing blisters on your feet include the following:
To treat an existing blister:
Pre-clean and sterilize—Disinfect the blistered skin with a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
Carefully drain the fluid—Sterilize a pin or needle and carefully insert it into the edge of the blister. Remove the needle and then carefully press and slowly drain the fluid out of the blister, trying not to damage the skin.
Sterilize and cover the area—Sterilize again and cover the area with a sterile bandage or Band-Aid.
To help prevent rubbing and blister formation:
Wear properly fitted shoes—Poorly fitting shoes that are too tight or too worn often cause friction and rubbing, leading to blisters. A computerized gait analysis will determine if you have any pronation problems. Wearing shoes with a wide toe box will help prevent rubbing and blister formation on deformities like hammertoes and bunions.
Isolate and protect hot spots with pads and orthotic inserts—Check your feet for red, inflamed skin and use moleskin pads to isolate these hot spots from further rubbing. Orthotic inserts can also shift pressure away from problem areas.
If you experience painful problems with ingrown toenail problems, contact your foot doctor for the proper treatment. Get in touch with Maple Springs Foot Center, located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. With access to advanced technologies, Dr. Stuart Snyder and Dr. Sara Sharma, Dr. Sahar Zadeh and their staff can help you manage all of your foot and ankle conditions, including heel pain, foot and ankle injuries, toe deformities, fungal toenails, blisters and plantar warts. Call (301) 762-3338 or make an appointment online today.
