What to Do When You Get a Nasty Blister

I am going to start this one with a little disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, the advice that follows is just my own personal research and experience. 

I will spare you a photo of the nasty blister that developed on my right big toe after last week’s long run (or the other 2 on the arches of my feet). I suppose I am a little slow on the learning curve for blister prevention and treatment! To prevent the same thing from happening to you, here are some tips for treating blisters:

Don’t Pop It!

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT pop it! I know a lot of people are tempted to just pop the little sucker, but definitely not a smart idea. You don’t want to open the blister because you risk infection by doing so.

Don’t Cover the Blister

Try not to cover the blister unless necessary. If it is necessary to cover it, make sure that the bandage you use is loose and allows adequate circulation to the blistered area. The little moleskin patches with the centers cut out (typically used for corns) work great for blisters too. BAND-AID also makes some great blister gel guards.

 Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages, Advanced Healing Blister Cushions, 6 Count Dr. Scholl’s Corn Cushions 9 Ct (Pack of 6)

Consider Your Shoe and Sock Choices

DO NOT wear the shoes or do the activity that caused the blister to form in the first place. Umm, I totally violated this yesterday morning when I did a 14 miler with Samantha! Do as I say, not as I do! Consider going to your local running store to make sure you are wearing the proper running shoe for your foot/gait.

Also make sure that you are wearing proper socks. There are certain types of socks that are better at helping avoid the friction. I am a big fan of the Balega Blister Resist No Show socks made with mohair. They keep my feet comfy and blister-free! 🙂

 Balega Blister Resist Sock (Small, Black/Red)

Blister Prevention

If you would like to avoid getting said nasty blisters, you can follow some simple blister prevention strategies.

• Make sure that your shoes fit correctly. If they are too tight or too loose, this can result in friction which creates blisters. Ideally, there will be a 1/2 inch from the top of your big toe to the tip of the running shoe.
• Wear synthetic/wicking socks. Cotton socks can keep moisture right next to your skin, creating a ripe environment for blisters.
• Do not run through water if you can avoid it.
• If you have areas that you know are prone to blisters (for me it’s my arches), you can apply Vaseline, Aquaphor or Body Glide to these areas. If you don’t want to go this route, you can also cut out a patch of moleskin and apply it to the area.
• Most importantly, if you feel like a blister is developing during a run, stop running and get out of your shoes before it gets any worse–you will thank yourself later!

30 Something Mother Runner received two pairs of Balega Blister Resist No Show socks for the purpose of review. All writing and opinions are 100% my own–I love these socks! More details on the site’s Disclosure policy can be found HERE.