Foot Blisters - Preventing & Healing Skin Blisters

Blisters - Preventing & Treating Blisters Blisters are the number one foot ailment in Hiking and they can turn the greatest hike into the most painful one. Blisters can be avoided by proper Foot Training, having the correct Hiking Boots and Hiking Socks, and by early detection of possible problems. In this section, know the causes of Blisters and how to prevent Blisters, and how to treat them.

What causes Foot Blisters?
* Heat: is the number one reason for getting Blisters. The heat responsible for causing Blisters is mostly caused by the friction between your skin and the inner of your boot. Sand and gravel in your boot can increase friction which is why they also cause Blisters.
* Moisture: moist or wet feet from sweat or water are more susceptible to Blisters as moisture softens your skin.

How to Prevent Foot Blisters
Preventing Blisters boils down to countering the factors that cause them. In general, keeping your feet cool, dry, and free of sand will do the trick. Here are some tips on how to prevent Blisters:

* First of all, select Hiking Boots with good fit that do not chafe your feet or have painful pressure points. Choose watertight but breathable boots that give the proper ventilation that will get rid of excess moisture. Look for fully gusseted tongs that keep sand and gravel outside of your boots. For more information on choosing correct Hiking Boots, read our section on Buying Hiking Boots.
* Give your feet ample rest. If you feel that your feet might be moist or overheated, it might be wise to make some alterations to your Hiking Rhythm and take a longer rest where you take off your boots and socks. If you do so, you might want to change socks and dry the ones you had on. Having two pairs of socks used alternately is always a good idea to prevent Blisters.
* If you decide to cool your feet in a stream or pool then make sure to dry them off well before you put on your socks and boots.
* When conditions allow it, take off your boots and socks and walk with hiking sandals.

Early Treatment of Itchy Foot Blisters
Blisters develop over a period of time and often you can already feel one coming up. Early detection and treatment is the key to preventing full grown Blisters. If you feel a sore place on your foot or irritation, do the following:

* Take off your boots and hiking socks immediately and remove any sand or gravel from your feet.
* Let your feet dry and cool down.
* Cover the sore area with surgical tape, band-aid, or even better special Blister moleskin. Moleskins are artificial skin that you can cut to shape and stick to your own skin. Moleskin can be purchased in most drugstores in a variety of brands and features.
* Remove the moleskin once you stop hiking and let the skin recover during the night. The next morning, you can judge for yourself to apply a new cover or not. In general, take precautions and apply moleskin even if the area is only moderately irritated.

On Healing Foot Blisters
* If the Blisters are at the surface and filled with fluid, you should take a sterilized needle and pierce the skin blisters. Pierce from the side close to the base of the Blister and let all the liquid flow out. If the affected skin is still intact then do not remove it. Instead, cover the drained Blister with moleskin. If the affected area is ruptured then carefully cut it away and clean the underlying new skin with rubbing alcohol or an antiseptic. If you have the time, you should allow the new skin to harden in the open air. If you need to move on again, apply moleskin and use gauze to keep the moleskin from directly contacting the tender new skin. Once the new skin has hardened a bit, you can apply benzoin or rubbing alcohol to further toughen up the new skin. Keep the new skin clean and sterilize it to prevent infection.
* If the Blisters on Foot are buried deep in your skin and does not hold a lot of liquid then do not try to puncture them. Instead, just cover them with moleskin.

These are the basic things you need to know about Blisters. It is essential that you have adequate First Aid knowledge and training if you are engaged in Outdoor Activities such as Hiking.

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