It happens to many people--you get new shoes, or neglect to wear socks, and a painful blister forms on your heel or other parts of your foot. When you have a blister, it may be tempting to pop it. However, this can cause more pain and worsen your problem! The body will naturally reabsorb the blister and will gradually go away on its own. If necessary, you can also safely drain the fluid without popping it. Our pediatric podiatrist explains what to do when caring for a blister.
Why Blisters Shouldn’t Be Popped
Blisters tend to heal on their own without any assistance. The skin that covers the fluid acts as a barrier between the wound and any possible bacteria. Opening a large blister can lead to infection and can make the healing process much more painful.
Treatments for Blisters
Most blisters heal on their own. However, if your blister is particularly painful (and you don’t have diabetes or poor circulation), you can carefully drain it at home. Simply wash your hands and the blister, apply iodine to the area, sterilize a sharp needle with rubbing alcohol and pierce around the blister’s edge to drain. Leave the skin intact, then cover with an antibiotic ointment, a bandage, and gauze. Check it regularly for infection and contact our podiatrist if any signs of infection appear.
It is important to avoid blisters in the first place. Blisters are usually caused by ill-fitting shoes or thin socks. Ensure that your shoes aren’t too tight and that you wear a thick pair of socks to cushion your feet and prevent blisters. If you have recurring blisters in the same spots, you may have foot deformities causing your problems.
When to See Our Doctor
If there is excessive swelling around the blister, pus, or it becomes very red and very painful, it could be infected and you should see our podiatrist immediately. Additionally, take extra care with blisters if you are diabetic. Popping or draining a blister, especially an infected blister, can lead to extremely dangerous ulcers in diabetic patients.
If there are bone structure deformities (such as bunions) that are causing your blisters, our doctor may be able to offer surgical intervention to alleviate the problem. Contact our podiatrist today to see if this option is right for you!
Get in touch with our pediatric podiatrist to find out more today!
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to podiatry, feel free to contact The Podiatry Center, with convenient podiatry offices located in Springfield, VA, by calling 301.660.8225 or by clicking here.
