Blisters?

[Raging Sheep]

What's good for blisters on your feet? My daughter went skating yesterday in boots that were too big and can't walk or get her shoes on today! :(

[allanscot]

Compeed is meant to be good if the blister is not too bad. Alternatively prick the blister with a sterilised needle to let the fluid drain then tape/plaster it up round the blister to form a ring bandage then cover the whole thing with another plaster to keep it sterile. This should help elevate the pressure on the blister so she can get her shoe on.

[Scott]

hydrocolloid Dressings

[Vildmark]

Prevention is better than cure, so I'd say avoid getting them, by walking in boots that fit and making sure that your socks doesn't huddle together. If that fails, use Compeed as allanscot says. Burn the end of a needle, puncture the blister at the edge and add compeed plaster. :)

[Scott]

If a hot spot develops apply some mole foam over it to help reduce friction. Do what Vildmark has suggested except I would reccomend applying some antisceptic cream then padding the area with a non-adhesive dressing and a small strip of mole foam over the top. I have had great success with this after being reccomended it. Or indeed, if you can get them hydrocolloid dressings are great.

[Marmot]

What ho kind sir, what's mole foam?

[Digby]

What ho kind sir, what's mole foam?

Saliva from a rabid burrowing mammal? ;)

[Scott]

That would probably do more harm than good if you used it Digby ;)

It's a sponge like foot foam that you can get from chemists.

[Ollie]

Cunning..

Nothing to do with burrowing mammals then? :D

[Superslogger]

I have always been told that you should not pop blisters? Is this now the recommended advice?

[Marmot]

Well i guess the blister is there for a reason, somethings rubbing that shoudnt. if they were meant to be popped they wouldnt form. However if done right, and what ever is causng thenm is removed the i tink poping them is a perfectly acceptable wa of dealing with them

[David]

People say not to pop them because if they get infected, that is a *major* problem, as there is a large surface area of exposed tissue (this can often happen). The methods suggested above are superb if you can keep the blister perfectly sterile, but often a small blister is not worth the chance of infection, if you can at least remove the rubbing.

[Scott]

As long as you sterlise the needle before hand (by heat) and thoroughly wash the wound with water and rub in antisceptic cream before applying dressings, infection won't set in.

[Spear]

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) should do the trick. I have found it is good for keeping blisters (from the last hike/ice skating trip/etc.) from rubbing. Before you put on your socks, rub your feet with a moderate layer of petroleum jelly to reduce the friction between your foot and the sock. Incidentaly, petroleum jelly is also good for keeping "hot spots" to a minimum on long marches and prevents chaffing in other areas around the thighs and crotch or under the areas your backpack straps rub.

[David]

I hadn't thought of that. Doesn't it interfere with sweating and bacteria and stuff though? I'd have thought things like goretex would be useless.

[Spear]

I honestly have no idea. My feet are pretty sweaty normally anyway :)

[guru]

re. the popping of blisters,
I was under the impression that the stuff (medical term?) inside the blister was created by the body to aid in the healing of the damage created. is that not right?

I get a blister every time I wear my sandles, above my heel on the right foot, compeeds usually help enormously. The last time I wore them I put the compeed on before going out. no blister!!! so not only are they great for blisters but they can also be used as a preventative messure against them, if you know where they're gonna strike that is!!!

[Special_K]

The fluid is there as your body is trying to protect and heal the area suffering (in what is in effect a friction burn). In the past I have trained to take part in several long distance road marches (100km) and the advice has always been:

air your feet as much as possible when not walking
if it isn't uncomfortable or doesn't hurt - don't pop it
if you have to pop it make sure the area and needle are sterile
dress the popped blister to prevent further rubbing

Hmmmm speaking of blisters, I have one on my big toe from some stupid going out shoes which are more fashion than function. Came to put my boots on for some walking around Kinder at the weekend and the blister was fine. Guess it's all about how much it hurts/annoys you. :p