BLISTERS

You just couldn’t resist again. Those looked great with your new outfit, even if they didn’t feel so great on your feet. “There’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 tissue have been burned, pinched, or just plain irritated. Virtually everyone has experienced friction blisters, the kind caused by now, read on to find out how to take care of it.

TREATING YOUR BLISTER
A blister is your body’s way of telling you that the skin and tissues are being injured. So while you take steps to relieve the discomfort, you also need to protect the injured area.

18 WAYS TO TREAT-AND BEAT-THEM

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 paddling in the middle of the bandage raise up a bit. This will not only protect the blister but allow air to circulate, which will aid in healing.

USE A DOUBLE-DUTY BANDAGE
Another type of bandage, available in pharmacies, contains a gel and antiseptic to cushion and “clean” the blister.

LET IT BREATHE
Some physicians believe that a blister should not be covered at all for maximum aeration. He even suggested slipping your shoe off while you sit at your desk at work in order to give your blister some air.

SMEAR ON AN OITMENT
Whether you decided to cover your blister or not, you should apply an antibacterial/antibiotic ointment to it. Doctors generally recommended 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 the cushion than just a bandage would. 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 more exact fit. 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 blisters with an antibacterial ointment and bandage.

PUT IT UP
Elevating the blistered area can help relieve the pressure.

BE PATIENT
Expect it to take about a week to ten days for the blisters 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.

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. first soaking the blister in Burrow’s solution, available from pharmacies in package or tablet (follow the direction on the package). Soaking the blisters for 15 minutes, three to four times a day, A day or two of this soften the blister and make draining easier.

WATCH FOR SIGNS OF INFFECTION
Redness, red streaks, or pus in an intact or a “popped” blister should be treated by a doctor.


PREVENTING BLISTERS

BUY SHOES IN THE AFTERNOON
“Over the course of the day, your feet may swell by as much as half a shoe size”. When trying on the 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.

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 result, make sure the padding covers more area than you think a blister would take up, since the neighboring area 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 tent to keep the feet dry by absorbing moisture.

TRY A SPRINKLE
Foot powders may aid in keeping the foot dry and preventing painful blisters from forming.