So you wore your new running shoes today on your entire training run for the July 4th Freedom Run 5K in Evergreen (big mistake!) and came home with a blister under the ball of your foot? Well, you’ve heard that it is best not to disturb them, but how do you treat blisters without popping them to get rid of the fluid and pressure?
The obvious place to start is to make sure the area is clean and dry, so wash it with mild soap and warm water and gently pat it dry. Then you can rest your feet and apply icy cold, wet compresses to the sore to soothe it. When you are ready to move about again, put a loose bandage on the area, or protect it with a donut shaped cushion to help keep weight off the spot.
You realize that you will need to stop running for a while (that’s why doing the distance in new shoes was a bad idea). You need to allow time for the fluid in the bubble to be resorbed and the skin layers to knit together again. The outermost layer that was separated by the friction will likely dry out and eventually drop off, since it has lost the blood supply that kept it healthy.
While caring for your blister, wear comfortable, cushioned shoes that won’t cause friction or pressure on it or let your feet slide around too much. Keep an eye out for any signs of infection such as swelling, redness, warmth, or pain. Other symptoms include colored pus around the blister and fever. Red streaks on the skin leading away from the sore is a reason to get in touch with our office as soon as possible, as the infection may have entered the blood stream and could become serious.
When you know what to do for a blister on your foot, the lesion should heal just fine, but if it remains large and painful, it is best to visit Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center and let us safely treat it. Dial (303) 423-2520 to reach our offices in Wheat Ridge, Golden, Evergreen, and Granby, CO, or simply request an appointment right on our website.
