Foot blisters are among the most common injuries for athletes. At Sports events such as the London Marathon in which we support Children with Cancer runners we treat hundreds of these.
Blisters are brought on by friction and pressure and can be extraordinarily painful. Aside from this they can also alter an athlete’s running form and lead to more strains on the leg and hip due to irregular gait and cause more serious injuries.
We urge athletes to take precautions and consult with us about taking preventative measures.
An infected blister will be painful, red and hot and may be filled with yellow or green pus. It’s important not to ignore an infected blister because it could potentially lead to secondary impetigo (a contagious bacterial infection of the skin) and further complications, such as cellulitis or sepsis.
How we can treat you
- We’ll treat an open blister by cleansing the area, covering it with an antiseptic ointment and using protective soft gel dressing to prevent infection and speed up the healing process.
- Paddings are used to protect the area. We cut a hole in a 1.5”piece of foam or felt, forming a ‘doughnut’ over the blister and tape the foam or felt in place.
- We will investigate the underlying cause, poor foot wear, excessive friction or medical conditions such as diabetes.
Make an appointment with us if you think the blister is are infected, the blisters are very painful or if they are recurring.
As tempting as it may be, try not to pierce a blister with a needle because it could lead to an infection or slow down the healing process. Allow the skin to peel off on its own after the skin beneath has healed.