Most of us have suffered from painful blisters at some point on our feet, or even our hands. But athletes in particular have to contend with them on a regular basis. Wearing badly-fitting shoes or repeating the same movement over and over can result in blisters on the feet, which then take several days to heal and can in some cases even stop an athlete in their tracks. In this article, we take a closer look at the issue of blisters and reveal how you can prevent them.
What are blisters and how do you get them?
A blister is a pocket of fluid, which forms when there is excessive friction in the same place. This causes the upper layer of skin to move against the layer of skin beneath, thus producing a pocket. The deeper the blister on the foot, the more painful it is. Blisters often form as a result of badly-fitting shoes or even abnormalities in the foot. Sometimes, blisters also form on other parts of the body, such as the hands. This is often due to performing the same movement repeatedly, for example with a tool, which results in the skin rubbing. It doesn’t matter if it is on the feet, the hands, or any other part of the body – when you get a blister, it usually goes through five phases.
- Soreness: Before a blister forms, constant rubbing causes irritation of the skin, leading to chafing.
- A blister forms: Chafing can be unpleasant enough on its own, but if the rubbing continues, this results in the situation described above: The upper layer of skin moves against the layer of skin beneath, and a fluid-filled pocket forms. We call this pocket a blister. You have got a blister.
- If the blister bursts: Sometimes, rubbing not only causes a blister to form but makes the blister burst. If dirt then gets into the wound, it can become infected. However, not all blisters burst.
- Scabbing: If a blister has burst, the fluid escapes from the pocket and the wound dries out. A crust then forms. However, this slows down the growth of new skin cells, delaying healing.
- The blister has healed: Once enough new skin cells have been produced, the tissue has been able to recover and the blister is completely healed.
This process usually lasts around seven days from a blister first appearing to it being healed.
How to treat blisters on your feet
It usually isn’t necessary to see a doctor about a blister on your foot. If it is a small blister, simply put a plaster for blisters over it to protect it and stop it bursting. With small blisters, the skin over the blister helps to protect against infection. That’s why you should never pop blisters like these on your feet.
In the case of a larger blister where there is a build-up of pressure, the skin can be punctured to allow the fluid to escape. The blister and the skin beneath it can then dry out. You should only put a plaster on the blister after it has dried out. If you pop a blister on your foot, it is important to make sure you only do it using a sterile needle. If not, you run the risk of infection, which can be even more painful.
If the fluid that escapes from the blister is cloudy or has an unpleasant smell, it could be a sign it is infected, in which case it is best to show your blister to a doctor. If the skin around the blister is red and painful, this is another possible sign of infection and it is advisable to see a doctor.
Special plasters for blisters are available, which prevent the blister developing further. They cushion the blister as effectively as possible to protect against further rubbing. Many of these plasters for blisters also have a pain-relieving effect, can protect against dirt and bacteria, and are waterproof.
To give the blisters on your feet the best chance of healing, if possible you should initially avoid wearing shoes which rub excessively against the affected area of skin. You can take the plaster off at night to allow the blister to air. This helps speed up the healing process. Because it is especially difficult for athletes in particular to avoid wearing shoes that rub, it is all the more important to take appropriate steps to prevent blisters on your feet next time. Read on to find out how best to prevent blisters.
Preventing blisters on your feet
To make sure you don’t get another blister as soon as you go on another long run, bear the following points in mind:
- Do not wear shoes which are too tight and which rub on certain areas of the skin. Shoes should always fit well and have good cushioning.
- If your shoes are not to blame for your blisters, then it is often the socks worn inside the shoes. They should not be too big, as this can mean that they wrinkle. Special sports socks are even available, which do not have bulky seams.
- New shoes should always be worn in beforehand. If you wear new shoes for a long time straight after getting them, then blisters are inevitable.
- Wear different shoes. If you don’t wear the same ones all the time, your skin is not subjected to rubbing in the same places all the time, too.
- And finally: Prevention is better than cure! pjuractive 2SKIN is a gel that can be applied to protect against chafing and blisters. Simply apply to the areas of skin that are particularly vulnerable to rubbing. An invisible protective film forms on the skin immediately after application on the problem areas, reinforcing the cell structure and distributing the pressure over a larger area. Unlike other products of its type, it allows the skin to breathe. 2SKIN is also water and sweat resistant.
If you want to make sure blisters no longer stop you in your tracks, follow our tips and try 2SKIN to prevent blisters on your feet in the future 🙂