Types of Foot Blisters 

Several types of blisters can occur on the toes, including clear, blood, and infected blisters.

1. Clear Blisters - clear blisters on toes look like bubbles on the skin. The fluid that fills the bubbles is called serum. It's the clear and watery part of the blood.
2. Blood Blisters - blood blisters on toes occur when a blister forms and blood vessels underneath become damaged, leading to blood leaking into the blister. These blisters appear either dark red or purple.
3. Infected Blisters - any blister can become infected and may require medical treatment to heal. Look for signs of infection, which include redness, heat, swelling, and pain around the blister, as well as an unpleasant smell and pus filling up the blister.

What causes a blister on the feet?

1. Pressure and friction – When the feet continually rub against a rough surface, shoe, or socks it causes foot blisters. Inflammation and irritation result in redness, pain, and swelling. Initially, a red sore appears, then the body sends fluids to fill the opening to protect the underlying tissue layers that are delicate.
2. Burning – If the skin is burnt, the body responds by creating a blister to avoid further damage to the underlying tissues. Blisters develop after about two days but in severe burns, they appear immediately and the blister on foot heals when the burn itself heals.
3. Freezing – Frostbite happens in extremely cold conditions where the skin cells die and foot blisters form to keep the body warm and prevent further damage.
4. Medical conditions – Various medical conditions weaken the outer layer of the foot skin leaving it vulnerable to foot blisters. A blister can also signify infections, disorders, and diseases.  These medical conditions include eczema, chickenpox, antibiotic treatment, blood-thinning medications, and being overweight.
5. Ruptured blood vessels – The tiny blood vessels in the epidermis of the skin break, they cause a blood blister. It occurs when the skin is pinched or crushed.
6. Contact dermatitis – Skin inflammation or dermatitis occurs when the foot skin is exposed to an irritant. If the exposure continues the condition progresses to form a blister on foot.
7. Excessive perspiration or moisture on the feet - This is common among athletes in warm months, especially runners. Small blisters may be seen when sweat clogs the pores of the feet.

Symptoms of a Blister

Blister symptoms include:

1. A reddened and tender patch of skin
2. A raised lump filled with clear fluid or, sometimes, blood.

Blisters may be painful or itchy. In some cases, the blister may be caused by something that affects the whole body, such as an infection. Then you may also have whole-body symptoms, such as fever, pain, or extreme tiredness. The symptoms of a blister may look like other skin conditions. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Ways to Prevent Foot Blisters

1. Wear properly fitted comfortable shoes and slip on a pair of socks with new shoes.
2. Apply band-aid, paper tape on your feet when you notice any signs of a blister formation.
3. Use antiperspirants, powders and astringents to prevent perspiration on your skin or if your feet appear itchy and red.
4. Stay away from extreme levels of stress and anxiety.
5. Steer clear of repetitive movements on one particular area which can pull up or inflame your skin.
6. Keep your feet dry.

How to Treat a Blisters on Your Feet

Most of the time, if you leave a foot blister alone, that is enough treatment for it to clear up. Even basic care can help treat a blister. It’s best to keep both blood blisters and friction blisters intact. While they may be painful, they are also a way of naturally defending the body. They protect underlying tissues and reduce pressure. In addition, blisters seal off the tissues to prevent fungus, viruses, or bacteria from entering the wound.

If you know you have a blister, it’s important to avoid putting more pressure on it. For blisters that are broken and have drained, the best thing to do is wash your hands and clean the area around the blister with water and soap. Next, cover the blister with a loose bandage or gauze.

Those who have an allergy or chemical blister should remove the irritant and wash the skin thoroughly.

A few other options for home treatment include the following:

1. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the blister without pressure.
2. Use a blister bandage to cover the area.
3. Raise the foot with a pillow or chair to reduce blood flow and limit inflammation.
4. Keep the area dry to aid the healing process.
5. Remove socks or shoes that created the blister.
6. Apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic cream to the blister and the area surrounding it.
7. Clean the skin using over-the-counter solutions for pain and inflammation, such as apple cider vinegar or hydrogen peroxide.
8. Once the blister opens, you should use sterilized tweezers or scissors to remove any dead skin. Make sure to be gentle and avoid removing healthy tissue.
9. Keeping an eye on the healing and watching for infection.
10. Treatments for other causes of blisters on the toes may include antibiotics, antifungal medications, or other medications to treat the underlying cause.

Foot blister pain can be very uncomfortable to live with. If you are experiencing pain with your foot blister, contact the podiatrist. He/She can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet and it can heal in a few days.

1. Leave it alone – Blisters heal naturally and provide a safe space for healing allowing new skin to grow. After the new skin grows, the body slowly reabsorbs the fluid and the skin dries up and flakes off.
2. Protect it – Protect the blister to prevent it from popping to decrease the time it takes for it to heal. Avoid friction around the blister and cover it with a loose bandage to allow airflow necessary for drying out the blister. Use an adhesive bandage to secure it in position.
3. Cushion the blister with a cushioned adhesive bandage designed for blisters to reduce pain and keep out blisters as the blister heals.
4. Pad it with a moleskin that absorbs pressure to avoid putting it on the blister.

Complications of Foot Blisters

Most friction blisters heal naturally and quickly. Possible complications include:

1. Infection, which could spread. 
2. Ulcer formation - particularly likely if sensation or circulation is poor in diabetes, peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy).

Should You Remove Blistered Skin?

You should never remove the skin of the blister after it has been drained or popped. The skin underneath the area will be raw. Blisters that have popped are considered open wounds, but the top layer of skin acts as a protectant and should not be removed.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

There are certain situations where you need to see a podiatrist due to blisters on the feet. If the blister worsens, becomes inflamed, looks discolored, or doesn’t heal in a few days, you should get in touch with a medical professional. If a blister is purple, green, or yellow, it has become injected and needs attention. In some cases, blisters of an abnormal color can indicate some kind of health condition, such as herpes. For extremely disabling, persistent, or infected blisters, podiatrists may choose to drain them in the office. A sterilized needle or scalpel will be used. A small sample may be taken for testing needs. In many cases, oral or topical antibiotics will be provided to prevent additional infection in the body.

If you think you have an infected blister on your toe, you may call us or book an appointment online today. You may reach us in Bethesda Maryland or Dallas, Texas to schedule an appointment.

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