Should you pop a blister on your foot?

New shoes plus a late night equals… Sigh. You have a blister on your foot. The next morning you contemplate how to go forward—should you pop a blister on your foot?

Ouch! It looks like your new shoes have left their mark; there is a painful blister on your heel. You know you should have broken the shoes in gently, but you just couldn’t resist parading around in them right away. So, now what? Should I pop a blister on my foot or just wait until it goes away?

Popping a blister is just like shooting yourself in the foot—figuratively, of course. In fact, popping a blister is not advisable; it only increases the pain and the risk of infection. Nor should you scratch a blister. If it’s itchy, apply a towel dampened with cold water to the sore. Here are a few more pointers:

• Clean the blister with soapy water (disinfect it if the blister has popped on its own)
• Apply ointment, aloe vera gel, or a moisturizing cream
• Cover the blister with a bandage; remove it overnight to expose the blister to the air
• Be vigilant if you suffer from diabetes because of an increased risk of infection

• Blisters are a natural reaction of the body as it attempts to protect the skin.
• When the tender skin of your toes rubs against your new shoes, the dermis and the epidermis layers of the skin separate.
• Serous fluid, called lymph, then fills the space that was created when the layers separated.
• The good news is that the skin under the blister is now protected from repeated assaults from your shoes. The bad news is you have yourself a blister.

Keep this in mind: there is no need to ask yourself Should I pop a blister on my foot? if there is no blister. Here are some recommendations to help you prevent blisters altogether.

• Avoid wearing shoes made of non-breathable material as much as possible. Heat, dampness, and perspiration increase your chances of developing blisters.
• For optimal comfort on a long walk, wear two pairs of thin socks, ideally without seams.
• Wear a very thin liner sock underneath your regular socks; they will keep your feet dry and reduce rubbing against your shoes.
• As a preventive measure, bandage those areas where blisters tend to form.
• Choose shoes that conform to the shape of your feet in order to limit pressure points.

• In most cases, foot blisters are of no consequence. However, you should consult a doctor if your blister is over five centimetres in size, if it bleeds or is deep, and if it is showing signs of infection (redness, swelling, and pus).
• As well, don’t hesitate to speak to a health professional if you want to learn about the best products on the market for the treatment of blisters.

Still wondering Should I pop a blister on my foot? The answer is no!