How to Treat Blisters

Follow these basic steps when popping blisters on your feet, and you will be well on your way to eliminating pain and reducing the likelihood of infection.

1.    The first (and perhaps most important) step of blister care is to prevent blisters before they form.  If you are going on a hike or have a certain pair of shoes that you know cause blisters to form on your feet, pre-tape your feet before you go out.  Most doctors would recommend moleskin, which you can find at any local drugstore, but athletic tape and duct tape work as well.


(If you are hiking the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail, it is not uncommon to see through-hikers with duct tape wrapped around their nalgenes!)  Blisters are most common on the back of your heel, ball of your foot and between your toes.  Be careful with your taping!  A bad taping job may cause blisters to form instead of preventing them!  Try to use as little tape as possible.  If the tape comes undone or balls-up in your shoe, remove your shoe (and the tape!) and reapply the tape.  

2.    If you do need to pop a blister, the first step is to clean the affected area.  Soap and water will do.  You can also use rubbing alcohol if you have it handy, or some other disinfectant.

3.    After cleaning the blister, you need to sterilize the needle.  You can do this by cleaning it with rubbing alcohol or holding it over a flame.  (If you sterilize with a flame, be sure to let the needle cool before you apply it to your skin!)  Insert the needle into the blister and remove it.  You should be able to drain the blister simply by pressing gently on the affected area.

4.    Once the blister is drained, clean the area again.  You will want to wrap the area with moleskin or some other adhesive device that will reduce friction on that area of your foot.  It is often helpful to cut a piece of moleskin in the shape of a donut so that blister sits in the middle of the donut and is protected from contact with the sock and shoe.  Wrapped tape over the donut to help hold it in place.  Ideally, a little pocket of air will keep your blister out of harm’s way.  

Sometimes the only way to get rid of a blister is to give your feet a break.  Blisters heal themselves over time, so take it easy for a couple of days if the taping-method is not working.