Blisters are the natural enemy of any athlete who exercises on a regular basis. Blisters can be minor, or they can cause crippling pain. Today, we share some tips on how to prevent and deal with problematic blisters.
1. Wear the Right Shoes – Blisters are caused by friction when something rubs against a certain part of your foot. To combat blisters, make sure you have proper fitting shoes. If your shoes are too tight, they are bound to rub your foot the wrong way. In fact, if your shoes don’t fit right, it can cause the problem below.
2. Keep Your Socks Dry – Wet socks can increase friction damage on your feet, so it’s really important to keep your socks dry. If your shoes are too tight, your feet may not be able to “breathe,” which can lead to wetness. Additionally, if you know you sweat easily, carry an extra pair of socks with you during particularly long runs.
3. Powder Up – If you haven’t sensed a theme based on the above two points, the key to preventing blisters is to keep your feet dry and friction-free. Talcum powder or other dry powders can help prevent rubbing or wetness, so don’t be afraid to powder your feet before lacing up your shoes.
4. Bandage It Up – Putting a small bandage on problematic areas can help prevent blisters, but they can also do more damage if they don’t stick to the sweaty area. If you’re buying bandages to help prevent blisters, don’t buy the cheapest bandage – find something that is formulated to stay on when wet.
5. Pop That Bad Boy – Now, you shouldn’t pop every blister that develops, as they’ll generally heal just fine on their own and popping the blister can increase your likelihood of infection, but if you’ve decided that popping the blister is the best course of action, here’s what to do. First, wash your hands and disinfect the blister and your needle with rubbing alcohol or another type of disinfectant. Find a soft spot on the outer edge of the blister and slowly press the needle into the blister until it pierces the skin. Pull the needle out and lightly press the area with a cloth or damp rag. Repeat this step on two or three locations around the blister to ensure it has good drainage. Once it’s done draining, bandage the area.
If your blister oozes green or yellow liquid, contact your doctor. This is a sign of infection, and it could cause serious problems.