Don’t burst them! How to Prevent, Cure and Cure Blisters

It is normal that when we put on new sandals for the first time, no matter how beautiful and fashionable they are, a problem appears on one of the toes. Friction that didn’t match the skin of your feet well, or involuntary pressure on your little finger or thumb, and with it the impending appearance of an ugly, shiny blister.

As Andrés Lehman, Clínica Dávila dermatologist, explains, “with friction, the skin undergoes a separation of its layers. This forms a space that can be filled with liquid: we call this blisters. An uncomfortable phenomenon that is favored by “repetitive and prolonged friction with shoes, especially without socks”.

They are usually the unwanted memory of long walks, long nights of dancing, or days of high performance sports. But they also appear when we first wear newly bought or gifted flip flops or a shoe that we like but does not fit well.

But the blisters do not only appear on the feet. Prolonged work with tools – such as shovels, pickaxes, axes or brooms – and without wearing gloves will call them into the hands, especially between the thumb and index finger. Also open very tight jars or bottles. And when you feel that one of them is going to appear, it’s usually too late: the cursed one, with its first reddish and then whitish color, has already settled on the skin.

Once he is there, the battle is not lost. There’s a world of difference between not taking care of a blister, letting it burst and possibly becoming infected, and keeping it in good condition. For the latter, “it’s handy to keep the area clean, with soap and water,” says Lehman, then “cover with a containerized gauze — it can be solid or liquid petroleum jelly — and another dry one. on top, so as not to stain shoes or clothing.” . The idea is to protect and moisturize the affected area.

In an old post about summer foot care, podiatrist Rodrigo Sagredo, known on Instagram as @elguardiandetuspies , assured that “it is never good to die”. As their contents are serous and liquid, when they rupture they can expose the bottom of the skin and if left untended can cause injury.

However, if the blister is very large and tight, and will eventually burst, it can be pierced (punctured), as long as you have a sterile needle to drain the fluid. “The roof of the blister protects still poorly prepared skin,” Lehman warns. “That’s why it’s better to drop it spontaneously, without interventions,” he says. Of course, he says “infections, with good care, are very rare.”

You went to a wedding and didn’t give in to walking without shoes. Despite the fact that many and many have taken them off to take advantage of the forbidden steps on the dance floor, the dirt, the danger of slipping or stepping on broken glasses has slowed you down. The next day, in addition to fatigue and a hangover, you will surely end up with one or more blisters.

The first thing to deal with this unpleasant presence is to try to stop using the shoe that caused the injury. Before the beauty of shoes or slippers, you must prioritize the health of your feet. “A wide and comfortable shoe will help reduce the risk of these injuries, so annoying and painful,” assured us José Luis Gatica, dermatologist and academic in the Postgraduate Department of the Faculty of Medicine of the U. from Santiago. Even if you love it or it’s the latest fashion, you should give this shoe a break, at least until the skin recovers.

In the case of sandals, it’s not just a matter of size or fit. “If the material is rougher, there is more friction and therefore more risk of blistering,” says Lehman. That is why it is also not recommended to wear shoes or sneakers without socks. Using it provides gentle protection that prevents these foot injuries.

Some people, simply because of a genetic predisposition in their skin, are more likely to develop blisters. “There are people who get blisters very easily, just from taking a short walk or putting in a little effort with their hands,” says Lehman. Sad and unhappy, especially if you grew up seeing someone in your family with this type of skin expression.

My mother, for example, every summer goes through this ordeal. He lives in the south of the south, so his feet are used to spending long periods of time in ankle boots, boots, or slippers. When you go on vacation to warmer regions, going out in the afternoon for a simple walk to eat an ice cream can mean the appearance of more than one blister. Her backup weapon is hot spring water. It’s his way of moisturizing and cooling the affected area before the blister bursts.

Juan Carlos Pastén, marathon runner and creator of the specialized platform solo race , gave us his advice on choosing the best socks for the summer. If it’s for jogging or running, the ideal thing is to have socks with coolmax technology —a highly breathable polyester fiber—, very necessary to eliminate bacteria and bad odors.

“If merino wool is used in the composition of the garment, I assure you that you will never have foot problems”, he analyzes. Other materials such as nylon, polyamide and elastane also guarantee firmness and breathability.

Another point he mentions is fit. “The tighter your feet are, the less likely there is to crease, which could cause friction leading to blisters or chafing,” he says. After training, you should try to dry your feet, air them, apply moisturizer and wear comfortable sandals. This little ritual will not only make you feel better, but also extend the life of your socks and slippers, as well as give your feet a mini spa moment.

Despite the fact that there are beautiful sandals on the market, comfort and materiality should always take precedence over style. To be beautiful, you don’t have to see stars, let alone light bulbs: you have to feel good.

type sneakers fangs or even the Hawaiian shoes, being plastic, make the foot sweat more, an effect that we must avoid in order to also avoid the proliferation of fungi between the toes. Therefore, in these cases, it is necessary to ensure that the material has antibacterial properties and is easily washable.

What should you look for? A puffy shoe —not so much so that the foot doesn’t dance inside—, with leather on the insole and that it is comfortable. At all costs, avoid any shoe or sandal that “makes it difficult to walk, because eventually it will lead to poor walking, which will cause injuries and a whole vicious circle”, commented dermatologist Patricia Apt, dermatologist at Clínica Las Counts.

If you are planning to buy a sandal or shoe for this season, it is best to try them on in the afternoon, when the foot is most swollen. For sneakers, it is recommended to find that the material of manufacture is breathable and hopefully with small pores, so that the air can circulate and therefore the foot is more ventilated.

“Comfortable, flexible, well-ventilated shoes, in addition to the use of socks, will prevent the occurrence of blisters on the feet,” says Lehman.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of December 28, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.