At one point in our lives, we have all had to deal with a pesky blister that has popped up on our heels, pinky toes, or sides of our feet from tight shoes or friction caused by socks rubbing in the wrong direction. Blisters are annoying, painful, and a minor inconvenience that can make us irrationally irritable at times. Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes, and foot abnormalities, such as bunions, feel spurs, and hammertoes. Additionally, heat and moisture, which can cause your feet to swell, can also intensify friction. 

Below we will be discussing blisters, how they form, and what you can do to prevent them entirely. One of the best methods to prevent blisters is to take care of your shoes by eliminating bacteria that cause foot odor and foot infection by using SteriShoe. SteriShoe is a podiatrist-recommended UV shoe sanitizer insert that uses UV light to kill 99% of bacteria that call your shoes their home. Try yours today.

What Are Blisters?

A blister is a small pocket of raised skin that is usually filled with clear fluid and caused by irritation from continuous rubbing or pressure. Friction blisters usually occur on the feet, where tight or poor-fitting shoes can rub and irritate skin on the toes and heels for long periods of time. Continued friction causes minor damage to the skin and to tissues just beneath the skin, but if the irritation is severe it may damage small blood vessels, leading to what is called a blood blister in which the blister contains blood.

Excessive moisture or perspiration can also trigger blisters. This is common during warm seasons among athletes, particularly runners. Tiny blisters form when sweat blogs the pores in the feet, so sp[ring and summer athletes need to prepare themselves with a second or third pair of socks to change into during practice to avoid blisters, foot and shoe odor, and potential infection. The SteriShoe insert has a built-in fan that can completely dry shoes between uses, so if you are on a two-a-day practice schedule, you don’t have to slip your feet into moist, bacteria-infested shoes.

The Dangers of Blisters

While most blisters don’t pose a serious health risk, they should be treated with respect. A blister can sideline a runner, but more importantly, it can also become infected, and those infections can put you in the hospital. While not all blisters will put you in the hospital, you should be extremely weary of popping a blister with a dirty needle or putting exposed skin from a popped blister into a moist or dirty shoe, which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

People with diabetes and people who cannot reach blisters easily due to a physical disability or ailment may need to have their blisters evaluated by a podiatrist or health care professional. People with diabetes often have nerve or circulation problems that make it more difficult to recognize wounds, so blisters can go unrecognized and could become infected. 

Preventing Blisters

The best way to prevent friction blisters is to wear shoes that fit your feet well so that the shoe is not tight anywhere and does not slide up and down your heel when you walk. Wearing socks with shoes to protect your feet will also prevent irritation and will keep your feet dry, which can be extremely important in maintaining the health of your feet.  

Blister Treatment

Because blisters typically get better on their own within just a few days, no special treatment is generally required other than keeping the blisters clean and dry. The skin provides natural protection against infection, so a blister should be left intact if possible. Avoid draining the blister on your own, and protect the skin by placing a sterile bandage over it to avoid further irritation. 

If you must drain the blister, wash your hands and wipe the needle with alcohol to sterilize it. Avoid putting the needle in a flame, as you will get carbon particles in your skin, which can further irritate the wound. Once you have punctured the blister, carefully drain the liquid by pushing gently with your fingers near the whole. Once that is done, cover the blister with a tight, clean bandage to keep bacteria from getting in.

If you’re an athlete, you should make sure to keep your feet dry. Apply foot powder to reduce sweating or try using moisture-wicking socks that are designed for athletes. These socks typically dry faster and reduce moisture. 

Try SteriShoe

There are several ways in which you can keep your feet safe from the dangers of blisters, one of which is using SteriShoe. SteriShoe is a shoe insert that dries shoes and kills 99% of bacteria in shoes that cause shoe and foot odor and foot infections. This podiatrist-recommended UV shoe sanitizer works by utilizing UV light. It is safe, highly effective, and essential if you wear shoes every day. Shop now.