What really causes the blisters?
- They are caused by friction from shoes or clothing which rubs repeatedly on the skin causing friction burns. What is happening is that as the outer layer of skin becomes separated from the inner layers of skin, and that gap fills with lymph fluid.
How can blisters be prevented?
- First, make sure you are purchasing shoes that fit correctly. An improper fitting shoe is the number one culprit of blisters. If you have a pair of shoes that rub on certain areas of the foot, protect those spots by taping that area. Keeping feet dry as possible by using foot powder will help prevent blisters as well as changing socks regularly.
What should you do if you have a blister?
- The first sign of blisters will be redness over the skin and then the blister bubble forms. Apply a dressing or blister plaster and tape the effected area. Make sure that the feet are dry and put on a new pair of clean socks. If the blister is painful, you can put petroleum jelly on the blister and then cover it back up.
To drain or not drain the blister?
- If the blister is a blood blister, do not drain it. If the blister is a fluid blister, you can drain it. If the blister has not burst, you can make a small hole at the edge of the blister with a sterilized pin or needle. Sterilize the pin or needle by passing it through a flame. Wait a few seconds for it to cool off so you don't burn yourself. Drain the fluid but leave as much of the skin as possible covering the wound to prevent infections from forming. Once drained, clean the blister with a sterilizing wipe. Cover the wound with a second skin, blister plaster, or band-aid.
What do you do when you get blisters? How do you prevent them in the first place? Feel free to comment.
Image by Tashwayne. (2011). Flicr. License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cinciw2/160365051/
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