Blisters

Blisters

You just couldn't resist a bargain. Those shoes

looked great with your new outfit, even if they

didn't feel so great on your feet. "They'll stretch out,

" you told yourself, and then patted yourself on the

back for getting such a good deal. Unfortunately,

you got more than you bargained for--namely,

painful blisters to go with your new shoes.

Blisters are tender spots that fill up with fluid

released by tiny blood vessels in an area where

delicate skin tissues have been burned, pinched, or

just plain irritated. Virtually everyone has

experienced friction blisters, the kind caused by hot,

sweaty, or ill-fitting shoes. If you have one now,

read on to find out how to take care of it. Then

continue reading to learn how you can help protect

your tender tootsies in the future.

Make a tent.

Instead of simply placing an adhesive bandage right

on top of the blister, "tent" the bandage by bringing

in its sides so the padding in the middle of the

bandage raises up a bit. "This will not only protect

the blister but allow air to circulate, which will aid

in healing," says Nelson Lee Novick, M.D.,

associate clinical professor of dermatology at the

Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Use a double-duty bandage.

Another type of bandage, available in pharmacies,

contains a gel and antiseptic to cushion and "clean"

the blister, says Wilma Bergfeld, M.D., head of

clinical research in the Department of Dermatology

at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. Ask

your pharmacist about it.

Let it breathe.

Some physicians believe that a blister should not be

covered at all for maximum aeration. Jerome Z. Litt,

M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at

Case Western Reserve University School of

Medicine in Cleveland, is one such doctor. He even

suggests slipping your shoe off while you sit at

your desk at work in order to give your blister some

air.

Smear on an ointment.

Whether you decide to cover your blister or not,

you should apply an antibacterial/antibiotic

ointment to it. Doctors generally recommend

Bacitracin or Polysporin, which may be less likely

to cause an allergic reaction or sensitivity than

other over-the-counter ointments.

Pad it.

When a blister is in a particularly annoying spot,

like the bottom of the foot, padding might provide

more of a cushion than just a bandage would,

advises Bergfeld. She suggests using the circular

pads made of foam adhesive found in the foot-care

aisle of drug- and beauty-aid stores. "Pharmacies

also carry sheets of padding that you can cut to size

for a more exact fit," says Bergfeld. Cut the

padding in the shape of a donut, and place it on the

skin surrounding the blister so that the blister fits in

the hole in the opening of the donut. Then gently

cover the blister with an antibacterial ointment and

bandage.

Put it up.

Elevating the blistered area can help relieve the

pressure, advises Bergfeld.

Be patient.

Expect it to take about a week to ten days for the

blister's fluid to be reabsorbed by the body.

Drain it.

While some doctors believe that a blister should

never be popped because of the risk of infection,

most agree that a blister causing extreme pressure--

such as one on a finger or toe or under a nail--is a

candidate for draining. If you should decide to pop

it, first wipe the blister and a sewing needle with

alcohol. "Never sterilize a needle over a flame,"

says Novick. "It can create soot on the tip of the

needle, which can 'tattoo,' or dirty, the blister."

Prick the blister once or twice near its edging; then

slowly and gently press out the fluid.

Keep the roof on it.

Once you have popped the blister and drained the

fluid, do not remove the deflated top skin. This skin,

called the blister's roof, protects the blister from

infection and forms a "bridge" for new cells to

migrate across on their journey to heal the site.

Soak first.

To drain a blister on a tough-skinned area, such as

the sole of the foot, Litt suggests first soaking the

blister in Burow's solution, available from

pharmacies in packets or tablets (follow the

directions on the package). He recommends

soaking the blister for 15 minutes, three to four

times a day. A day or two of this will soften the

blister and make draining easier.

Watch for signs of infection.

Redness, red streaks, or pus in an intact or a

"popped" blister should be treated by a doctor.

Buy shoes in the afternoon.

"Over the course of the day, your feet may swell by

as much as half a shoe size," says Gastwirth. When

trying on shoes, wear the same type of socks that

you plan to use with the shoes.

Look for leather.

Unlike nonporous vinyl and plastic materials,

leather has microscopic pores that allow air to

circulate, keeping the foot drier. In the same way,

so do the clusters of perforated holes primarily

found on many styles of sports footwear. A dry foot

is less likely to develop blisters.

Don't exercise at midday.

The heat of midday, especially in the summer, can

make the feet perspire more, making them more

blister-prone.

Never wear wet shoes.

The wetness can cause more "dragging" between

the foot and shoe and can result in blisters. If you

jog twice a day, for instance, you may want to buy

a second pair of running shoes for your second run

each day.

Protect "hot spots."

If you have a chronic "hot spot," or place where

blisters tend to develop, apply petroleum jelly to it,

then slip on your sock. Foam or felt pads, used

alone, can also absorb the friction and protect a hot

spot. For best results, make sure the padding covers

more area than you think a blister would take up,

since the neighboring areas can become irritated,

too.

Wear the right socks.

Specially made sport socks with extra padding in

hot spots can help prevent blisters. Natural fibers

such as cotton and wool tend to keep the feet dry by

absorbing moisture. However, according to

Gastwirth, recent research suggests that acrylic

fibers may, through a wicking action, actually

move moisture away from the foot, keeping it drier

and making it less prone to blistering. Your best

bet? Try them both and see which type of fiber

keeps your feet drier and more comfortable. In

addition, make sure the sock fits your foot, so there

is less chance of it bunching up inside the shoe and

causing a blister.

Try a sprinkle.

Foot powders may aid in keeping the foot dry and

preventing painful blisters from forming.