How to Cure Foot Blisters

Blisters on the feet can be caused by shoes rubbing against them and the skin being too wet. Usually, blisters on the skin are not serious and can be treated at home with antibiotic creams and bandages. Note that while it’s best to let blisters heal on their own, severe blisters may need to be punctured with the right tools and cleaned properly.

Table of Contents

Relieve pain and prevent complications

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Bandage the blisters. Blisters on the feet should be covered to reduce friction and prevent infection. Cover the wound with soft gauze or a loose bandage. If the sore is too painful, you can cut an opening in the center of the gauze like a donut and cover it to avoid pressing directly on the wound. ^{[1] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

If the blister is just an irritated part of your skin, you can simply cover it up and leave it alone. It will dry up and heal after a few days. ^{[2] X Research Resources Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrists. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}
You need to change the dressing every day. Always wash your hands before touching the bandage and the skin around the blister

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Apply antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly (Vaseline cream). Antibiotic ointments can prevent infection. You can buy antibiotic ointment at the pharmacy and apply it to the blister as directed, especially before putting on shoes or socks. You can also just use petroleum jelly instead of ointment. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the blister.

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Try applying powders and creams to reduce friction. Friction can make blisters worse and more painful. To reduce friction on the blisters, you can go to the pharmacy to buy a foot powder. Sprinkle chalk on socks before putting on shoes to reduce pain. ^{[4] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

Not all powders are suitable for everyone. If you find that certain powder causes irritation, you should stop using it immediately.

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Take care of your feet while the blisters have not healed. You need to take good care of your feet while the blisters are healing. Wear an extra pair of socks and loose shoes while the blister hasn’t healed. An extra layer of padding will make it more comfortable to walk and may help the wound heal faster. ^{[5] X Research Resources Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrists. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}

You also need to do your best to avoid touching your foot while the wound is healing.
Try changing socks twice a day to help reduce the risk of blisters. Cotton socks are usually better than ppyester socks.

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Protect a blister that has already broken from infection. Unless the blister is causing severe pain, it is best not to drain the fluid yourself, as this can increase the risk of infection. Let the skin above the blister peel off on its own and avoid touching it to prevent the blister from breaking open prematurely. ^{[6] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Use a mpeskin patch to protect the blister if it is touched while you walk.

Blister drainage

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Hand washing. In some cases, you can pop a blister yourself if it causes severe pain, but this should only be done if the wound becomes unbearably painful. Before breaking a blister, wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water. Never touch blisters with dirty hands. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Drain the fluid only if the blister is large and filled with fluid. If it’s just a small or mild blister, you should let it heal on its own.

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Clean the blister. Before breaking the blister, you need to wash the surrounding skin with water, do not use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or iodine as they can slow down the healing process.

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Sterilize the needle. You can use a suture needle to puncture the blister, but disinfect the needle first to prevent infection. Buy rubbing alcohol at the pharmacy to clean the needle. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Pour some alcohol from the bottle onto a cotton ball or use an alcohol swab to disinfect the needle.

Another way to disinfect the needle is to heat it over an open flame until the needle is red hot. Use a tool to pick up the needle because the needle will be very hot.

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Poke blisters. Gently insert the needle into the blister. Pierce several times near the edge of the blister. Wait for the fluid inside to drain out naturally and leave the skin on top. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Do not peel off the skin on the blister. You should just insert a needle into the blister to drain the fluid, then cover it. This piece of skin will eventually dry out and peel off on its own. ^{[10] X Research Resources Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrists. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}

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Apply ointment. Apply ointment to the blister after draining the fluid. You can use Vaseline or Plastibase creams that are available at drugstores. Use a clean cotton ball to apply ointment to the wound. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Some ointments can cause irritation. You need to stop using that ointment if you see signs of a rash.

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Bandage blisters. Apply a gauze pad or bandage to the blister. This step is intended to protect the wound during recovery. Change the dressing twice a day and apply ointment with each dressing change. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the blister.

Get medical help

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See a doctor if complications occur. Most blisters will heal on their own. However, when complications have occurred, you must go to the doctor. If you notice any of the following complications, see your doctor: ^{[13] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source}

Painful, red and hot blisters or red streaks
Yellow or green latex
Blisters come back again and again
Fever
Diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, HIV, or chemotherapy can cause blisters to rapidly worsen, causing sepsis and cellulitis.

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Exclude underlying diseases. Most blisters are benign. However, in some cases, blisters that are caused by an underlying medical condition, such as chickenpox, will need to be treated differently. Based on your other symptoms, your doctor may run some tests to rule out underlying diseases before treating the blister. If you have a medical condition, your doctor will recommend treatment. ^{[14] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

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Follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Based on the cause of the blister, your doctor will create a treatment plan for you. Follow all your doctor’s instructions and ask questions before you leave the clinic. ^{[15] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source}

Prevention of blisters

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Avoid shoes that can cause blisters. If blisters appear after you wear a new style of shoe or your shoes are too uncomfortable, throw them out. Buy shoes that fit well and have enough room for your feet to move freely. Wearing the right size and comfortable shoes is the best way to prevent blisters.

You should also choose the right shoe style for the activity. For example, you should wear running shoes when you practice running.
Try to find the cause of the abnormal movements that caused the blister to appear. For example, this could be due to a crease in a sock or shoe that isn’t the right size. ^{[16] X Research Sources Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrists. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}

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Stick the mpeskin patch or insole to the shoe. Stick a small mpeskin or pad inside the shoe, especially on the bottom of the foot or where the shoe rubs against the foot. These products help soften the feet, reducing friction and irritation that are factors that cause blisters. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Wear moisture-wicking socks. Moisture can cause blisters or worsen existing blisters. You should buy socks with moisture-wicking properties. They will absorb sweat from the feet and reduce the risk of blisters and other lesions. ^{[18] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Advice

Avoid walking for a while when your leg is blistered – the wound is still painful and hasn’t healed, so if you want to play sports again, you need to make sure the injury is completely healed. Don’t play sports if the blister isn’t painful but hasn’t healed yet! You can hurt yourself and cause new blisters.

Warning

Do not use matches to disinfect tools that you will poke the blister with.
See your doctor if you have a fever, blisters that don’t heal, seem to be getting worse or infected, and blisters that are red, hot, and pus-filled.

Steps