Spring is sandal season, which means it’s shoes without socks season, well, which means it’s blister season. The only thing worse than getting blisters on the bottom of your feet is not knowing what to do with blisters on your feet. So how do you treat a blister at home? The following tips will help you to keep your feet smooth.
1. Let It Be
The best thing you can do when you get a blister is leave it alone, and well this can be a hard thing to do. Throw a bandage over it and let the blister heal itself so that you don’t risk any infection. If it’s not too painful or inconvenient, this is definitely the safest way to get rid of a blister.
2. Always Be Clean
Making sure you keep your blister dirt-free is important, especially if you’re going to end up popping it. Don’t rub your blister with iodine or rubbing alcohol. This is a case where good old soap and water will work just fine.
3. Try Aloe Vera
When you’ve got a blister that’s bothering you, you can slather on some aloe vera gel. Aloe vera has astringent properties, which will help with preventing infection and keeping the blister clean, and the cooling sensation feels nice when your feet are burning.
4. Soak Your Feet
There are three main benefits to soaking your feet. It’ll keep the blister clean. It’ll soften the skin around the blister so it drains a little quicker. And it feels really nice, especially after a long day of wearing uncomfortable footwear. Throw in a little epsom salt into some warm water, and relax.
5. If You Do Pop A Blister, Have The Proper Tools
Sometimes, you just have to pop a blister, especially if it’s on the bottom or arch of your foot and it’s preventing you from walking properly. So if you’re going to go that route, make sure you have the proper supplies: iodine or rubbing alcohol, cotton pads, a needle, antibiotic ointment, and bandages. This is when making sure your blister is clean — again, with soap and water only — is especially crucial.
6. Do Not Remove The Loose Skin
If you’re going to pop the blister, clean the needle with rubbing alcohol or iodine first, then prick the sides of the blister to let the fluid drain out. Do not pick the skin off your blister after you pop it. Let me repeat that, because it’s really important. Don’t pick that loose skin off the top of a popped blister because if you do, you’ll leave quite an opening for infections. Leaving that layer of skin will help with the healing process, too.
7. Clean Bandages Are Your Best Friends
8. Watch For Infections
9. Soak Feet In Black Tea
Applying black tea on the affected area helps soothe blisters. Black tea has anti-inflammatory properties, but green tea has more, so soak in cold green tea instead of black.
