Blisters on Feet: Causes, Home Remedies, When to See a Doc - Greatist

When you're trying to get your 10,000 steps a day, the last thing you need is blisters on your feet. Foot blisters are usually just annoying. But they can be incredibly painful and might point to a more serious condition for some people.

Hold up, though. Don't give up your dreams of running a 5K just yet. Here's the rub on how to safely heal and prevent blisters on your feet – so you can get back to making your FitBit happy.

How to get rid of blisters on your feet

Blisters typically heal without treatment as long as you leave them well alone.

If a blister on your foot is causing discomfort or making walking a mission, you should:

• Avoid poking, prodding, or popping a blister — however tempting it may be.
• As soon as you feel a blister form, cover the area in a padded bandage or wrap it lightly in gauze to reduce friction.
• Keep the skin clean, but avoid scrubbing or harsh soaps.
• Make sure the skin stays clean after the blister drains. This will help you keep infectious agents away from the wound.

Some blisters fill with blood or pus. It's important that a medical professional assesses whether these are safe to drain. They can then remove the fluid with a reduced risk of infection.

Blisters form due to skin damage, irritation, or infection.

You know how your last online order came snugly packaged in bubble wrap? Blisters do the same, but for skin damage (plus, they're a little more eco-friendly).

Often, a blister fills with a clear liquid that protects the skin underneath.

If the trauma goes deeper, the blister could fill with blood. This forms a (very creatively titled) blood blister. If the blister looks cloudy, greenish, or yellow, it could also contain pus.

That's not necessarily a red (or yellow?) flag. But if the symptoms of infection gets worse or spread beyond the blister, see a doctor.

Usually, blisters are harmless, if annoying. Knowing what causes a blister can help you know when they warrant a closer look from a medical pro and when to shrug them off and leave them be.

1. Tight fitting shoes

The biggest culprit for foot blisters is shoes that don't fit. Tight fitting shoes cause friction. As your foot continues to rub against the shoe, it damages the skin. This damage can lead to blisters.

That doesn't mean that a shoe that's half a size too small will automatically take you to blister town. Standing and walking often don't cause enough friction to damage the skin.

But running or hiking in tight shoes is a recipe for pain. Make sure your shoes fit properly before you head out on a run.

2. Excess moisture and sweat

No one likes running around in wet shoes. Not only does it just feel gross, but it makes blisters more likely.

No one deliberately hits up a marathon after jumping in puddles. But it's important to keep moisture and sweat in check when you go for a run.

One study studied the impact of 5 different materials for running socks and their impact on blisters. The study authors found that the material didn't make any significant difference to friction, but the amount of moisture on the runner's feet played a larger role.

How to keep your feet dry and avoid blisters during exercise

If you're a runner or athlete, it's important to keep your feet as dry as possible to avoid blisters.

One study found that foot powder helped reduce moisture levels on the feet which reduced the chance of blisters.

So, break out the foot powder and keep a pair of fresh socks on hand and you might prevent blisters from forming in the first place. 🧦🧦

Foot powder is available for purchase online and over-the-counter (OTC) at your local pharmacy or fitness store.

3. Sunburn

If you get a bad enough sunburn, the skin blisters to protect the skin and give it a chance to heal.

The feet aren't the most likely place you might get sunburnt (although it can happen — looking at you, flimsy sandals). But people often forget to bring the SPF to the tootsies. And that can lead to some very painful blisters.

The importance of sunscreen

You have to wear sunscreen.

UV rays can damage your skin and contribute to your cancer risk — no matter your skin tone, how long you're outside, or the amount of cloud cover.

Wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 whenever you leave the house. That includes walking the dog and riding in the car. Be sure to cover all your skin — ears, fingers, and the tops of your feet.

SPF 30 sunscreen is available for purchase online and at most supermarkets and pharmacies.

4. Frostbite

If you're stuck outside and it's under 28º F (-2°C), you could develop frostbite. Your fingers and toes face the highest risk of frostbite damage, so try to keep them warm in brutally cold temperatures.

As exposed tissue starts to freeze, blood vessels can burst. This causes swelling and blisters.

Frostbite's pretty obvious — you'll likely know if it's the cause your blisters. If you have frostbite blisters, seek emergency treatment at your nearest hospital.

This gives healthcare professionals the best chance of treating and possibly salvaging the damaged tissue.

Even if you don't notice blisters but have been stuck outside in under 28º F (-2°C) weather, it's best to see a doctor ASAP so they can rule out or treat frostbite damage.

5. Allergies

Sometimes, an allergic reaction (known as allergic contact dermatitis) causes blisters. These blisters can pop up anywhere on the body, feet included.

These blisters might form alongside other symptoms, including:

• a red rash with borders that aren't very defined
• itching
• dry skin
• swelling

If you spot a blister and also clock these symptoms, it's likely to be an allergic reaction.

How to manage contact dermatitis blisters

Get that allergenic sh*t away from your skin ASAP and slow the inflammatory response. Here's how:

1. Be sure that the allergen doesn't stay in contact with the skin.
2. Wash the area with soap and water.
3. Take a dose of any prescription allergy medication you use.

If the blisters don't resolve (or if they get worse), see a doctor. They may prescribe steroids to help reduce the inflammatory response.

6. Chickenpox

If blisters start popping up all over and itching like crazy, it might be chickenpox. And if you're at an age where this doesn't bag you the day off of kindergarten, it could be more severe for you.

It's rare that chickenpox will stay in your foot area. But the blisters can start anywhere and don't always spread across the entire body.

If you're an adult and suspect that you have chickenpox, see a doctor. Though the disease is less serious in children (and most get vaccinations against it anyway), the illness can be more severe in adults. (Not so funny now, is it, "Friends"?)

The chickenpox vaccine is available to anyone who hasn't already had chickenpox. So, if you want to avoid the illness entirely, ask your doctor about getting a jab.

7. Bacterial infection

A bacterial infection occurs when disease-causing bacteria pass into the body and trigger an inflammatory response. Sometimes, that response produces blisters.

Examples include impetigo and MRSA. Neither is particularly pleasant and both can produce blisters on the skin. Impetigo, however, usually develops on the face rather than the feet.

If you have other symptoms of sickness other than just the blisters (or if the blisters look like they're filled with pus), head to a doctor. A course of antibiotics will usually solve the problem.

You really should try and seek consultation, if you can. Waiting out a bacterial infection at home can prolong recovery and make the infection worse. And who wants that?

8. Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Scientists weren't terribly clever when they came up with the name hand, foot, and mouth disease.

It develops when the Coxsackievirus enters the body and does what it says it does. Hand, foot, and mouth disease causes painful blistering across your hands, feet, and… yep, the mouth, too. (Seriously. It's like calling gingivitis "sad chompy tooth time.")

It typically occurs in young children and the blisters usually develop alongside a fever. If your child has a blistery rash on their feet and hands, plus sores in their mouth, this could be a potential cause. (Adults can also get it, though.)

Thankfully, this disease usually goes away without treatment. You only need to see a doctor if the rash doesn't improve after 10 days, or if it starts getting worse.

9. Diabetes

Large blisters or a cluster of blisters might form around the hands, legs, and feet on peeps with diabetes (although it's rare).

It's called bullosis diabeticorum. Though the blisters may be large and full of fluid, they aren't usually painful.

Although on the large side, these blisters aren't dangerous in themselves. But they could suggest that you need to take extra measures to control your diabetes. They also have a risk of popping and introducing infectious agents to your body.

Be sure to keep the area clean and covered, especially if the skin breaks.

10. Herpes

Herpes blisters usually appear on the mouth and groin. Sometimes, however, they can develop on the fingers and — more rarely — the toes. This is known as herpetic whitlow. And it sucks.

Herpetic whitlow flares often resolve without treatment within 2 to 4 weeks. But taking prescribed antiviral medications can chop that time to 4 days.

So if you have a herpes diagnosis and start getting foot blisters that won't go away, talk to your doctor about herpetic whitlow.

11. Dyshidrotic eczema

A common form of eczema causes itchy blisters on the hands and feet only. This type is dyshidrotic eczema (aka pompholyx — new band name, called it).

There's no known cause of dyshidrotic eczema. But people with regular eczema are more likely to get this blistery version than those without eczema.

Stress or exposure to metals can cause flares. If blisters form, be sure to take the following measures:

• keep the skin clean
• avoid friction
• use a heavy duty hydrating lotion to moisturize the skin

These simple, preventive measures can help you walk, run, and frolic all you want without blisters getting in the way.

Wear shoes that fit

If the boot fits…

This seems simple, but how many times have you slipped on your finest stilettos on the grounds that they're *a little* tight, but, gosh dang it, is your drip on point?

Bad news — one night of tight shoes can lead to aggravating blisters.

If you're a runner or hiker, it's even more important that your shoes fit properly so that recurring friction doesn't lead to loads of foot pain.

Keep your feet dry

Sweaty feet (the little-known sequel to "Happy Feet") are a leading cause of blisters. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to keep it dry.

Moisture wicking socks and a drying foot powder can help even heavy sweaters avoid irritating the skin and causing pain.

Avoid irritants

Soaps and detergents can irritate the skin, sometimes leading to blisters. Make sure you avoid anything that causes skin irritation. Use gentle soap on your feet and avoid scented detergents.

If you have allergies, keep away from anything that causes a reaction if you'd like to stay blister-free.

Hypoallergenic soaps are available for .

Treating or managing underlying conditions

If you're prone to eczema, keep hands and feet extra moisturized to try to stave off dyshidrotic eczema.

Or, if you have diabetes, make sure you're managing the disease according to your doctors guidelines.

For any underlying conditions, be sure to keep treatment to avoid side effects, blisters included.