Blisters are caused by skin friction. Your foot is sliding or shifting in your shoe during running and other activities. Fluid collects between the irritated layers of skin tissue and swells. Blister treatment should help to avoid infection, minimize pain and discomfort, stop swelling and maximize recovery.
Most of the time patients are not presenting in the office with this as a chief complaint unless it is infected or not healing readily, but patients often ask me how to treat them. Here is a good guide in general for you to follow, keep in mind this does not include DIABETICS, as you all should not treat your own wounds without my help.
Brian Timm, DPM, FACFAS
Diplomate American Board of Podiatric Surgery
For an intact blister:
- Apply a piece of moleskin, adhesive felt or tape that is 1.5 to 3.25 inches larger than the blister, with a central hole slightly larger than the blister
- .Apply antibiotic ointment.
- Place a piece of gauze over the moleskin, felt or tape and add a piece of adhesive tape to hold the gauze in place.
Over-the-counter products such as Mueller® More Skin or Spenco® 2nd Skin® work well for blister relief and protection.
If you are going to continue running, drain blisters in weight-bearing areas that are greater than 0.8-inch in diameter. Follow these steps:
- Clean the site with an alcohol wipe or hydrogen peroxide.
- Use a flame sterilized needle to lance two to four holes in the side of the blister.
- Apply pressure to push out the fluid. Clean and dry the skin.
- Apply benzoin around the blister.
- Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment at the puncture sites. Do not remove the outer layer of dead skin.
- Apply a blister care product.
- Check the site daily.
If the fluid appears hazy or cloudy in the blister, drain it. Apply antibiotic ointment and a protective covering. Check the site frequently.
For a ruptured blister:
- Treat with antibiotic ointment over the blister and use a protective covering.
- If the outer layer is torn off or only a flap is left, carefully cut off the loose skin, clean the area and cover the new skin with antibiotic ointment. Use a protective covering such as Tegaderm, or some other variant over the counter.
- If infection is present, clean the site frequently, apply antibiotic ointment and see your health care provider for more treatment options.
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