Cause of Blisters on Foot or Hand, Blister Care, Painful Blisters Treatment, Healing and Prevention

A blister is an area of raised skin with a watery liquid inside. There are many causes for blisters to rear-up; some preventable, others maybe not (i.e Coxsackie virus).

The most common blisters are those “darn” self-inflicted ones you get on your foot or hand. And its development usually only noticed when its too late.

Foot and hand blisters are caused by rubbing friction or pressure. These thin-walled fluid filled sacs amass to furnish you with a natural barricade to bacteria, thus reducing your risk of infection.

Don’t puncture your friction caused blister unless it’s painful. Blister care treatment for your unbroken, small blisters is covering it with an adhesive bandage and forget it. For larger ones, tape on a porous gauze pad for moisture absorption and blister region breathing.

If you have diabetes or poor circulation, consult your physician. In your case, what seems like a minor blister can lead to other major issues.

In the event your blister is painful, fluid draining treatment may be necessary. The recommended procedure for achieving this blister care, and also avoid infection, encompasses:

  1. Clean the blister area with soap and warm water.
  2. Disinfect area with iodine or rubbing alcohol.
  3. Sterilize a needle with rubbing alcohol.
  4. Puncture your blister in a couple spots near the edge.
  5. Let the fluid drain, leave the natural skin barrier in place.
  6. Apply an antibiotic ointment & cover with a bandage or gauze pad.
  7. After a few days, cut the dead skin.
  8. Apply more ointment and a bandage.

Signs of infection around a blister include:

  • pus
  • redness
  • warm skin
  • pain increase

Considering the situation with MRSA, any skin infection probably should medically evaluated for any additional blister care and healing. OTC topical bacterial ointment works great for minor infections.

Some natural healer and infection fighter treatments:

To prevent your having to heal a friction type blister, use gloves, socks, bandage or some sort of protective overlay on repetitively rubbed skin.

Some specifically designed products for just such an instance are:

Again, if you have diabetes, then extraordinary measures need to be taken to avoid blistering.

A couple of key points to remember when making a shoe purchase:

  • try on both shoes
  • no seams in the toe box
  • shoe size changes you age
  • leave toe room ~ wiggle your toes to be sure
  • your feet swell during the day, try-on best in afternoon
  • flexible, supportive and cushioned insoles make for healthy feet
  • shoes worn with socks should be fitted with “likely to wear with” socks

Your ticket to healthy, blister free feet and hands is appropriate foot and hand gear. Gotta plan ahead!

Along the Same Health Lines:

« »