There are six common blister treatment mistakes you should avoid if you want your foot blister to feel better and heal faster. This article highlights all six with the help of photos and social media. Do your utmost to avoid all of these so your blister can get better rather than worse!
Blister Treatment Fail 1: Not Treating the Blister At All
We know that the majority of blisters will spontaneously pop if you simply put your shoes back on and ignore it, opening it up to infection. Here's an example of the risks of non-treatment. Without putting too fine a point on it, it's limb-threatening. Just ask Kate Miller-Heidke - glad you're back on both feet Kate!
DON’T PANIC! This was a few weeks ago. I came back from Europe with a very serious infection which can end in amputation or even death. All from a blister. Anyone who has worn them knows high heels can can kill - but I never took it literally. #eurovision
Blister Treatment Fail 2: Not Applying an Antiseptic
Blisters exist in the outer layer of skin. But their bottom layer is ever-so-close to the blood vessel layer. With continued insult to your blister as you continue to stand, walk or run, or simply allow your shoes to press on it, you’re risking the skin eroding a little deeper and allowing infection to occur. Dab a bit of antiseptic or antibiotic cream on it to take infection out of the equation – especially if you're treating a blood blister.
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Blister treatment fail 2: Apply an antiseptic / antibiotic to prevent infection. The blister fluid in this blister is actually pus. Pus indicates infection and it's yellow and thicker than normal blister fluid which is thin and colourless.
Blister Treatment Fail 3: Putting Tape Straight Over the Blister
The worst foot blister treatment thing you can do it put tape over your blister because the weakened and damaged blister roof may be ripped off as you remove it. There are other downsides to putting tape directly on a blister too.
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Blister treatment fail 3: Don't stick tape straight onto your blister. You'll rip the roof off.
Blister Treatment Fail 4: Putting a Hydrocolloid Blister Plaster on an Intact or Torn Blister Roof
This is a big mistake because these plasters are adhesive. Just like tape, as you go to remove it, you’ll probably tear your blister roof off and make the whole situation worse. What happened in this case (below) is the hydrocolloid stuck to this runner's intact blister roof AND his sock. So when he pulled his sock off, off came his blister roof too - what a mess! Instead, use an island dressing - learn more about blister bandaids and blister bandages here.
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Blister treatment fail 4: Hydrocolloids should only be used on deroofed raw blisters. This hydrocolloid went on an intact blister and ripped the roof back as it was removed.
Blister Treatment Fail 5: "Letting the Air Get To It" So It Scabs Over
One of the least helpful things you can do to get rid of a blister on your foot is specific to deroofed blisters. A lot of people think the best thing to do is leave it open to "let the air get to it". Drying your blister out doesn't help it heal faster. In fact, it heals slower. All that happens is you're letting a scab form. Moreover, a scab isn't skin - it's dry weepy goo from your wound. It's brittle and inelastic. In other words, it's an irritant to healing. That's because it's all too easy to break or dislodge a scab, only to be back at square one with your raw weepy blister base, which has been sitting underneath the scab all that time, trying unsuccessfully to heal.
Foot blister treatment for deroofed blisters is all about keeping it moist - not dry. Raw blisters heal best with a moist environment. That's what your island dressing or hydrocolloid bandage will provide. It might look gross when you take the dressing off and it might smell bad. But trust me, it helps strong, stretchy, resilient and healthy skin grow back over your blister.
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Blister Treatment Fail 6: Neglecting Pressure and Friction Management
If your blister was on your leg or your hand, you wouldn't have to worry about pressure or friction so much. You'd easily and instinctively avoid it (like not holding things with your blistered finger). But we're talking about foot blister treatment! Getting rid of blisters on feet is a little more complicated - we have to walk on our feet and our shoes are constantly pressing on them and pressing toes together.
Click these links to learn more about how to take pressure off your blister and how to reduce friction levels. This is what will make your blister feel much less painful and allow it to heal faster. Because it will stop the skin stretching too much while it's trying to heal.
What Does Great Foot Blister Treatment Look Like?
- Read this foot blister treatment article
- Download this free blister treatment blueprint
- Watch the video below
