Everyone develops a blister at one point in their life or another due to poorly fitting shoes or other causes. The most common causes of blisters are burns and friction.
Often when someone develops a blister they pop it to relieve pressure. However, the unbroken skin is a great natural barrier against bacteria and infection.
It is better not to pop the blister as long as it is not too painful. For extra protection, apply a band-aid or plastic-coated gauze pad. This gauze pad will absorb the moisture when the blister does pop and it will allow the injury to breathe and heal.
If you are allergic to the bandages, consider using tape instead to apply some gauze. There is a way you can drain the fluid and pain out of a blister and still keep the protection of the overlying skin.
Start by making sure your hands and the blister are clean by washing them with soap and warm water. Then sanitize the blister through spreading a thin coat of iodine or rubbing alcohol over the blister with a cotton ball or swab.
Then, sterilize a sharp needle with the rubbing alcohol as well. Carefully puncture the skin on the edge of the blister and let the fluid drain out.
The fluid is causing extra pressure on the skin and the pain. This way the fluid can drain out, but the skin can remain to protect the afflicted area.
Be sure to spread an antibiotic ointment over the area to prevent infection. Then, re-cover the area with a bandage or gauze pad for added protection.
After a few days the underlying skin should have healed enough to pull away the dead, dry skin with sterilized tweezers. Be sure to reapply the ointment and bandages.
If you observe signs of infection such as pus, redness, increasing pain, or abnormally warm skin visit a doctor right away. The longer an infection waits to be treated, the harder it will be to treat.
There are many preventative measures you can take to avoid blisters. Consider using gloves, socks, or protective bandages on areas that may face a lot of friction.
Shoes are a primary cause of blisters developing on the feet due to friction. Special athletic socks with extra padding in specific areas have been developed for athletes who face an extremely high amount of friction.
Moleskin is also a popular material that lends added protection to specific areas of the foot. However, the best option is to select shoes that fit properly in the first place.
There are many tips that can help you select shoes that fit better. The first is to shop in the middle of the day.
As you move about and walk around, your feet swell. This swelling is the largest later in the day, so that is the best time to select new shoes.
Another mistake people make is to wear sandals to try on shoes because it is easier to take them on and off. However, you should be wearing the normal socks you wear for walking when you try on shoes to make sure they fit properly.
Shoe stores will often provide you with a tool to measure your feet. These tools will help you select the right size instead of settling for a shoe that is too small or too big, but looks cool.
Often one foot will be a little larger than the other. Be sure to measure both feet so that you do not end up buying shoes that are perfect for one foot, but too small for the other.
If one foot is larger than the other, buy the larger size. Be sure to try both shoes on both feet. In addition, you will need to consider the flexibility and supportive strength of the shoes.
While you do not want clown shoes, or shoes that are five times too large, you will want some toe room in your shoes. This will allow for growth and comfort.
Now that you have narrowed down your selection of shoes, check the inside. If the shoe has a seam on the inner side of where the toes are, consider how irritating this seam will be.
Picking the proper shoes is vital to the health of the foot and comfort of the body. The right shoes should not cause blisters.
Author Resource:-
Tom Selwick has worked as a podiatrist and foot surgeon for the past 14 years and written hundreds of articles about various foot conditions including plantar fasciitis.
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