Blisters on the feet are small blisters filled with fluid that form in the upper layers of the skin.
Usually they arise when the outer layer of skin is damaged.
The fluid collects under the skin lesion and acts as a cushion on the tissue.
The bubble:
- protects the tissue from further damage,
- prevents infections.
Most blisters are filled with a clear liquid called a serum. It is the part of the blood that remains:
- after removal of red blood cells
- and substances that enable coagulation.
However, if the blisters are inflamed or infected, they could also be filled with:
- Blood
- Pus.
- Blisters can form anywhere on the body, but are most common on the hands and feet.
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What are the causes of blisters?
If a patient consults a doctor about his blisters, the following problems may be the cause of the diagnosis.
Inappropriate footwear:
Inappropriate shoes and socks are the most common cause of blistering.
Tight footwear puts excessive pressure on the foot and causes friction, which can lead to the formation of blisters on the feet.
Rubber shoes significantly impede air circulation and favor:
- Blow
- other skin infections of the feet.
Athlete’s foot: Athlete’s foot (or tinea pedis) is a condition caused by the formation of blisters due to a fungal infection
The blisters can occur anywhere on the foot, including the soles of the feet, but usually affect the area between two toes.
Symptoms of athlete’s foot include:
- painful blisters,
- Itch
- Burning sensation on the skin.
Symptoms worsen, especially after running.
The skin becomes dry and cracked.
Allergic reaction: Side effects to a medication such as ibuprofen (anti-inflammatories) may occur in the form of:
- Rash
- Blisters on feet and hands.
Excessive sweating: Athletes and runners sweat profusely after attending a sporting event.
Sweat irritates the surface of the skin and, in conjunction with friction, can cause the formation of blisters on the feet.
The athletes most affected are:
- runners, especially marathon runners,
- Basketball player
- Tennis player
- Footballer, also indoor football player.
Dyshidrosis (or dyshidrotic eczema): The formation of small blisters on the soles of the feet or between the toes may be caused by dyshidrosis, a type of eczema that often causes severe itching.
Patients often complain of burning sensation on the skin, which can worsen after contact with detergents and soap.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a common infectious disease in infants and children.
It is characterized by:
- Fever
- aching sores in the mouth,
- Rash with blisters on the hands, feet and buttocks.
Other causes of blisters
- friction on the skin;
- contact with chemical substances such as detergents;
- heat, for example, sunburn or combustion;
- Conditions such as chickenpox and impetigo.
Symptoms of blisters on the feet
Bubbles with clear liquid can occur anywhere on the water.
Feet, on which there are blisters, are swollen in this area.
Some blisters are painless, but others can cause severe foot pain that can make walking impossible.
What can be done against blisters? How are they treated?
Only rarely is medical intervention necessary if blisters occur, unless they:
- are severe and recurrent,
- are caused by burns,
- are the result of infection.
How are blisters treated?
- Wash the area frequently with salt water to remove dirt and irritants.
- If a blister is in an area where it can easily tear, this area should be covered with a soft bandage. Care must be taken to ensure that it does not stick to the bladder.
Adhesive tape should only be applied outside the bladder to avoid injuring the skin when the bandage is removed.
The bandage should be changed every day. - If the bladder tears, the liquid must be carefully squeezed out and an antiseptic (for example, tincture of iodine) applied to reduce the risk of infection.
- Create a bandage with a recess. Instead of a plaster over the bladder, it is better to apply an adhesive bandage around the sides of the bladder with a pad in the center that does not stick to the skin.
The bandage protects the bladder while the air accelerates healing. - Use a double bandage. Another type of dressing is available at the pharmacy and contains a gel and an antiseptic to clean the bladder.
- Let the bladder breathe. Some doctors believe that a bladder should heal as much as possible in the air and never be covered.
During the treatment, the bandage can be removed if you sit or lie at home and no protection is necessary. - Applying an ointment. It is recommended to use an antibacterial/antibiotic product on the bladder. As a rule, doctors recommend bacitracin.
- Use a cushion. If the bladder is in a particularly uncomfortable area (for example, on the sole of the foot), a padded bandage helps better than a simple one.
You can use a circular ring made of a kind of foam, which is available in pharmacies and health food stores.
Most pharmacies sell large layers for upholstery, which can be cut to the required dimensions.- Cut the padding into a ring.
- Attach it to the skin surrounding the bladder.
- Gently coat the bladder with an antibacterial ointment.
- Apply a bandage over the bladder and padding.
- Put your leg up. For further help and to relieve the pressure and discomfort, the bladder area can be raised.
- Be patient. Normally, it takes anywhere from a week to ten days for the fluid in the bladder to dry out.
- Open the bladder. Some doctors believe that a bladder should never be opened because it poses a risk of infection.
However, the majority of doctors are convinced that a bladder that exerts too much pressure should be relieved (for example, on a finger, toe or under a nail). - Never open a blister caused by a burn. Large blisters that may burst during normal activities should be treated by a doctor.
Is it allowed to pierce blisters?
If you decide to open a bubble for a quick remedy, it is necessary:
- disinfect the bladder with a sterile needle (such as that of a syringe); do not use sewing needles;
Some doctors advise against sterilizing the needle over a flame because the soot at the tip could irritate the bladder. - Pierce the bladder once or twice at the edge and then slowly and gently press on the bladder so that the liquid can escape.
- After the bladder has been pierced and squeezed, the overlying skin must not be removed.
This skin naturally protects the bladder from infection. - Apply a gauze bandage to protect the bladder.
- After about three days, the skin of the bladder is covered and can be removed. You can apply an antibiotic ointment.
Watch for signs of infection.
You should consult a doctor for:
- Redness
- red spots,
- Pus in intact or open bladder.
These signs need to be treated by a doctor.
The doctor may prescribe a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide or lysoform and subsequently ointments or antibiotic creams such as sulmycin (ointment with Celestan-V).
Natural remedies for blisters on the feet
Foot bath with salt water. To empty a blister in a corneal layer, such as on the sole of the foot:
- bathe the bladder in a lukewarm salt water solution for at least 15 minutes;
- repeat three or four times a day;
- after a day or two, the bladder is sufficiently softened to facilitate emptying.
For this reason, a stay at sea with existing bubbles is quite possible and even recommended.
Sodium bicarbonate can be added to the foot bath.
Pure Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it helps to alleviate:
- Rötunge,
- Swellings.
In addition, aloe vera is highly moisturizing, thus helping to keep the skin moisturized and promote healing, especially after the bladder has opened and shrinked on its own.
How is aloe vera used?
- Apply some aloe vera gel to the bladder.
- Cover with gauze.
- Leave on all night.
- Repeat for a few days.
Tea tree oil The tea tree oil
has some antibacterial and astringent properties that help dry out the bladder.
- Apply a few drops of tea tree oil directly to the bladder.
- You can also use a cotton ball dipped in oil.
- Allow to dry.
- Repeat twice daily.
It does not harm most people, but sometimes skin irritation can occur.
Apple cider vinegar foot bath in apple cider vinegar
is a very proven home remedy from grandmother’s times for blisters.
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties and therefore helps to avoid infection if the bladder has been punctured.
Vinegar can burn on the skin. Therefore, it is better:
- dip a cotton ball in vinegar,
- gently brush the area around the open bladder;
- Repeat twice a day.
Toothpaste Some people use toothpaste to:
- Pimple
- Blow
- and to ‘dry’ wounds.
However, these would probably dry out on their own in a day or two.
If toothpaste is used, you should use a product without cinnamon flavor, as this can irritate the skin.
Avoiding blisters on the feet
1. Keep feet moist. Like sweaty skin, dry skin is more susceptible to friction.
2. Use creams and ointments daily to ensure adequate hydration.
3. Choose breathable socks without seams.
Synthetic socks block moisture on the skin. Cotton is lighter, but retains liquid. Socks with padding under the heel and between the toes can help reduce friction.
4. Apply a cream with zinc oxide to the foot. The cream prevents friction between foot and sock.
5. Use a patch as a “second skin” (for example, COMPEED®), a padded patch that sticks even when wet. The patch forms a protective layer between the skin and socks.
6. Double socks. Wearing two pairs of socks on top of each other creates friction between the two socks instead of between the sock and the skin. If the shoe is too tight for this, you should choose it half a shoe size larger. However, it is important that the foot does not slip back and forth excessively.
7. Put on matching socks and shoes. Shoes that are too small (especially with heels) cause pale under the toes and at the edges of the nail.
There should be a finger-width distance (about 1 cm) between the toes and the toe of the shoe.
The shoe should also not be too big, as this can cause chafing with every step. This is the most common reason for blistering in children.
8. Footwear. Shoes have to fit properly. Shoes that are too large or too small increase chafing or friction on the foot and toes.
9. Change shoes. Every 6 months or every 700 km you should buy new footwear. If it is heavily worn, you should change it earlier.
Shoes should not be left near stoves or radiators, as this may cause the leather to contract or seam to protrude.
