View Full Version : Treating a blister
johnnybgood
01-23-2009, 19:58
I'm sure you seasoned hikers know this already , I just thought I might put this out there for all the new folks new to hiking . They also fall into that category of more likely to develop a blister simply by not breaking in a new pair of hiking shoes BEFORE taking off from Springer Mountain. First of all , STOP hiking as soon as you feel a hotspot begin to develop. Secondly , cover the affected area with moleskin ( put this in your first aid kit ) , YES a first aid kit is neccesary ! change moleskin several times daily while cleaning area with an alcohol-based sanitizer such as peroxide. If a blister occurs , POP it and treat it , cleaning it first with above mentioned sanitizer , then using a sterile needle lance the very bottom of the bubble sac and push out the fluid with your index finger. Not tearing off the skin because that will serve as protection against germs. Apply moleskin once again ( Foam will also work). Repeat cleaning & applying moleskin 2-3 times every day. Happy hiking !
My experience has been different, and I have had some HUGE blisters on my heels. With the friction, heat, humidity, and intensity on the feet of hiking 12+ mile days, duct tape and antibiotic ointment just works, simple, easy, it "holds", wash up at night and air them out.
I have yet to have anyone take me up on this suggestion but yet I continue to share it when the topic of blisters comes up.
After popping your blister at the base, hold an open flame slightly below the blister and allow the skin to callous. It won't be the most pleasant experience (and you risk actually burning yourself) but it will toughen the skin and help to prevent future blisters. Above all, a properly fitting pair of shoes (even if they are directly out of the box) shouldn't cause your feet to blister but sometimes it takes a little while to find that "perfect pair".
-Donnie
FritztheCat
01-23-2009, 22:41
With the friction, heat, humidity, and intensity on the feet of hiking 12+ mile days, duct tape and antibiotic ointment just works, simple, easy, it "holds", wash up at night and air them out.
I've heard the duct tape remedy many times. I have yet to try it (haven't had a blister in a long time) but have to wonder, how to you get the duct tape off to air out the blister at night without ripping off all the skin the tape is attached to?
Slo-go'en
01-23-2009, 23:02
New Skin liquid bandage is the only stuff I've yet to find which works. And works quickly. You have to pop, drain and remove the flap of skin before you paint it on (and man, does it sting!) for it be effective.
Unless you glue it in place with superglue, Moleskin doesn't stay where you put it for very long. Same goes for bandaids and those medicated blister patches.
johnnybgood
01-23-2009, 23:19
New Skin liquid bandage is the only stuff I've yet to find which works. And works quickly. You have to pop, drain and remove the flap of skin before you paint it on (and man, does it sting!) for it be effective.
Unless you glue it in place with superglue, Moleskin doesn't stay where you put it for very long. Same goes for bandaids and those medicated blister patches.
Yeah I have used liquid bandage , actually the medical profession has been using something similar to that for many years .
BitBucket
01-23-2009, 23:33
Ditto the liquid skin recommendation...that stuff flat works...a small bottle goes a long way...I ripped open a finger on a broken door and used that instead of stitches to put it back together.
Paint on several layers and it's just about as resilient as the real thing...and keeps out the dirt and moisture as well
Pickleodeon
01-24-2009, 10:38
NewSkin burns like the fire of a thousand suns. Never again.
ChinMusic
01-24-2009, 13:01
I've heard the duct tape remedy many times. I have yet to try it (haven't had a blister in a long time) but have to wonder, how to you get the duct tape off to air out the blister at night without ripping off all the skin the tape is attached to?
Duct tape will not tear intact skin. This is not an issue.
For an area where the skin is damaged, take a smaller piece of duct tape and place it sticky side to sticky side on the larger piece of duct tape. This creates a non-sticky (slippery) window that protects the damaged area without having to worry about it tearing upon removal.
FritztheCat
01-24-2009, 13:32
For an area where the skin is damaged, take a smaller piece of duct tape and place it sticky side to sticky side on the larger piece of duct tape. This creates a non-sticky (slippery) window that protects the damaged area without having to worry about it tearing upon removal.
That makes a lot of sense! I'll have to try that. Thanks!
fiddlehead
01-24-2009, 14:18
Blister Sister needs to comment on this thread. She had the worst feet i've ever seen on the PcT IN '96 and she heard a hundred different remedies from all kinds of people who saw her feet.
I remember one fire fighter who told her to piss on them. Said he learned it in the army.
Blister?
Analogman
05-03-2009, 10:25
My experience has been different, and I have had some HUGE blisters on my heels. With the friction, heat, humidity, and intensity on the feet of hiking 12+ mile days, duct tape and antibiotic ointment just works, simple, easy, it "holds", wash up at night and air them out.
Duct tape is cheap, readily available almost anywhere, and it works. Sometimes the simple solution is the best one.
Analogman
05-03-2009, 10:28
NewSkin burns like the fire of a thousand suns. Never again.
I have this mental image of your foot bursting into flames and leaving a charred stump at the end of your leg.
take-a-knee
05-03-2009, 10:36
Duct tape will not tear intact skin. This is not an issue.
For an area where the skin is damaged, take a smaller piece of duct tape and place it sticky side to sticky side on the larger piece of duct tape. This creates a non-sticky (slippery) window that protects the damaged area without having to worry about it tearing upon removal.
That is exactly what I do. As always, prevention is best. If you even THINK you have a hot spot, drop your pack and check your feet. I keep duct tape wrapped around my hiking poles and a tiny pair of scissors in the hip belt pocket of my ULA pack so I don't have to dig into my pack to treat a hot spot.
Spirit Walker
05-03-2009, 13:55
Duct tape doesn't stick to my skin. When I tried it, the tape would slide down my heel, bunch up, and create new blisters, so I stopped using it. Molefoam (cut in donut shape so that the adhesive wasn't on the blister) worked better most of the time, though if it wasn't fresh, the glue dried out. Since switching to lighter shoes I rarely get blisters - except occasionally on my little toes when doing roadwalks. I use toe bandages (little foam tubes) for those and have been much happier.
frisbeefreek
05-03-2009, 14:16
Duct tape saved my feet while breaking in a pair of narrow Hardrocks. Simply taped over the hot spot. I also cut a couple of breathing holes in the tape to allow some perspiration to escape.
In addition to putting some on the skin, I placed some on the inside of shoe heel to reduce the friction between my sock and shoe.
Phoenixdadeadhead
05-03-2009, 16:18
Yeah I have used liquid bandage , actually the medical profession has been using something similar to that for many years .
This is what I use as well, the product I have is called new skin, although I have not had blisters on my feet in many years. I first learned of new skin in of all places the bowling alley. Bowlers tend to get blisters on their thumbs and they use new skin to fix the problem.
I always had great luck with duct tape after trying moleskin for a few years and I could never get the stuff to stick for very long. If a blister has already occurred I usually just change to a thinner or thicker sock and leave the blister alone unless it's unbearable. Then I make a small hole, drain it and apply the tape.
Ultrarunners have devised creative (perhaps desperate?) methods to get through long races, including completely wrapping feet in duct tape. Hikers might learn a few things from this thread http://www.ultrunr.com/footcare.html
Ultrarunners have devised creative (perhaps desperate?) methods to get through long races, including completely wrapping feet in duct tape. Hikers might learn a few things from this thread http://www.ultrunr.com/footcare.html
I was at Neel Gap when Karl came through and stopped to eat during his attempt at the AT record. He took his shoes off and, OH MY GOD, you should have seen this guys feet after 2150 miles of rough trail running! They were a conglomeration of duct tape, band aids, neosporin, and leaking goo that looked like something out of a bad horror flick. He had blister creaping around the tape in spots. I looked at my wife and said something about this guy being "some kind of tough".
rhodeshale19
05-05-2009, 05:19
How to Treat a Blister
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 5 minutes
Here's How:
Swab blister area with rubbing alcohol and let air dry.
Sterilize a needle for 10 seconds in a flame.
Puncture the edge of the blister near the skin.
Apply gentle pressure to squeeze out fluid.
Do not remove or rub off the top of the blister.
Apply antibiotic ointment, but avoid alcohol or iodine.
Cover with sterile gauze or bandage
Discard needle into sturdy plastic or metal container.
Change the gauze or bandage daily.
If pus or redness develop, seek medical attention.
Tips:
Don't burn yourself in the flame - hold the needle in a tweezers or with a glove or potholder on your hand.
Sterile blister prickers are a good tool.
Small blisters do not need draining, just protect them and they will shrink and disappear.
What You Need:
Sterile needle or pricker
Antibiotic ointment
Rubbing alcohol
Bandage
i see a couple guys mentioning popping the blister. i was always told not to do that, but to allow it to drain itself, and that the shell of the blister formed a sterile covering.
is that incorrect?
Alligator
05-07-2009, 12:34
i see a couple guys mentioning popping the blister. i was always told not to do that, but to allow it to drain itself, and that the shell of the blister formed a sterile covering.
is that incorrect?If it's a big bubble of a blister, it'll tear off if it's not drained. So it's a needle hole vs. a rip in many cases. I dab a little antibiotic cream on the needle hole.
Duct tape doesn't stick to my skin. When I tried it, the tape would slide down my heel, bunch up, and create new blisters, so I stopped using it. Molefoam (cut in donut shape so that the adhesive wasn't on the blister) worked better most of the time, though if it wasn't fresh, the glue dried out. Since switching to lighter shoes I rarely get blisters - except occasionally on my little toes when doing roadwalks. I use toe bandages (little foam tubes) for those and have been much happier.Similar situation, duct tape doesn't stick as well for me as a good athletic tape and a piece of moleform. I too have switched to trailrunners and at most get small blisters now.
Alaskanhkr23
05-07-2009, 12:35
This is crazy, I was just got on here to ask the different methods for treating blisters and look its been already asked,I like the Duct tape method mentions on the first page,I personally would be more likely to have duct tape.I was also always told to leave them to drain themselve that popping or lancing them can creat a higher risk of infection or rot,My CNA training also tell me that also
Alaskanhkr23
05-07-2009, 12:40
But i guess if you treat the blister Multi time's a day then i can see that being possible.But if you don't and you lance it or rip it,infection will occur underneath the flaps of skin and you'll not be happy,also depends on how big of a hole you make,a little slit in it and cleaning should be also a possiblility
double d
05-07-2009, 12:49
Does anyone have a webpage they can post regarding liquid skin? I would like to buy some. Thanks in advance.
ChinMusic
05-07-2009, 13:37
I first learned of new skin in of all places the bowling alley. Bowlers tend to get blisters on their thumbs and they use new skin to fix the problem.
I used to be an avid bowler and found Newskin to be a good product.
One thing that I found to be bulletproof for protecting my thumb was to apply Superglue once I felt a hotspot on the side of my thumb. Even though that added some thickness to my thumb, once dry, the slipperiness of the Superglue made it "feel" like the thumb hole had gotten a tad bigger. The Superglue would tend to wear away after a few games and would have to be touched-up.
I wondered if this concept would apply to feet. I had an area on my left heel that was giving me a fit a couple years ago every time I went out. I put some Superglue on this area, let it dry of course, put on my socks and went about my hike. No troubles. The Superglue protected the area and didn't wear off like it did on my thumb while bowling.
I think Superglue would work on non-flexing area like the side of a heel just like Duct Tape, but MUST be placed before you have tissue damage.
take-a-knee
05-07-2009, 18:07
This is crazy, I was just got on here to ask the different methods for treating blisters and look its been already asked,I like the Duct tape method mentions on the first page,I personally would be more likely to have duct tape.I was also always told to leave them to drain themselve that popping or lancing them can creat a higher risk of infection or rot,My CNA training also tell me that also
The only problem with NOT draining a blister is, sometimes if you keep walking on it, the loose skin will tear. Then you have a mess that is highly likely to get infected. If the blister has enough fluid in it to cause pressure and pain, I use an alcohol prep or hand sanitizer and clean the blister, then puncture it on the edge with a flame-sterilzed sewing needle. So, it is a judgement call. You are right though, don't pop if you don't have too, but occasionally you may have to drain one.