How to Treat Blisters on Your Feet

If you've had a blister on your foot, you likely know it can be an incredibly painful and uncomfortable experience.

A blister is a fluid- or blood-filled sac (or bubble) that forms under the top layer of the skin, known as the epidermis, can be painful and itchy - and can potentially become infected.

They can form anywhere on the body, but the feet are especially prone to blistering, as they're constantly undergoing friction from footwear and physical activity.

Foot blisters can seriously interfere with your day-to-day activities. Fortunately, they're generally preventable and easy to treat on your own.

What Causes Blisters on Feet?

The most common type of blister on the foot is a friction blister, which occurs when the skin repeatedly rubs against another object - like ill-fitting shoes, says Tracey Vlahovic , a doctor of podiatric medicine and a clinical professor in the department of podiatric medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, who specializes in podiatric dermatology.

These shear or shearing forces, in particular - the kind caused by rubbing two surfaces against each other in opposite directions - result in the top layer of skin separating from the layer below, forming a gap that then fills with blood or fluid.

Heat and moisture levels can also be factors in whether or not a friction blister forms.

Dr. Vlahovic notes that blisters can have other, less common causes.

"As a podiatric dermatology specialist, I see blisters that form for a variety of other reasons as well, like contact with an irritating substance, genetic disorders, or metabolic disorders," she says. "But those tend to be rarer."

Additionally, other types of blisters can have other causes.

A blood blister forms when something pinches the skin and blood pools inside.

You can also get heat blisters, which result from burns or sunburns - or after warming up from frostbite.

How Do You Treat Blisters on Feet?

First of all, figure out what caused the blister in the first place, Vlahovic says. You want to know so that you can avoid that behavior in the future to prevent the blister from becoming worse - or developing another one. For instance, she says: "If your shoes don't fit, find another pair that fits your feet properly."

At-Home Blister Care

As far as what to do about the existing blisters, Vlahovic says that she doesn't encourage popping it. "The roof of the blister is like a natural bandage, so let it heal naturally if you can," she says.

But if the blister is very large and painful, you might not have a choice, she adds - it may pop on its own.

In the event that the blister pops, you should still avoid "de-roofing" it, which means removing the skin, according to Ali Rahnama , a doctor of podiatric medicine and foot and ankle surgeon at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC.

"If you peel the skin away, you can expose the raw skin beneath, which - if further irritated - can develop a wound or infection," says Dr. Rahnama, who is also an assistant professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. "It's best to leave the skin on."

It serves as a natural, biological wound dressing that protects the skin and prevents that other type of damage, he explains.

Whether or not the blister pops, Vlahovic recommends applying an adhesive bandage for further protection. "That can be a specialized, hydrocolloid-cushioned bandage made for blisters [which contains an ingredient that turns into a gel when it absorbs fluids to promote wound healing], or simply a regular adhesive bandage," she says.

When to See a Doctor About a Blister on Your Foot

In certain rare or specific instances, you'll want to see a doctor about a blister, Vlahovic notes.

For instance, if you have diabetes and you see blisters on your feet, she recommends seeing a doctor as soon as possible. Open sores that have the potential to become infected (called ulcerations) are a concern. Diabetes can also cause neuropathy , or a lack of sensation, which might mean someone is unaware of a blister not healing correctly or worsening.

"For patients with diabetes we always want to be extra vigilant," she says. "That's the one time that I will open up the roof of the blister, because it's important to find out if there's ulceration underneath."

Another reason to see a doctor about blisters is if multiple blisters appear at once, or if you see blisters on top of the foot, or some other part of the foot that isn't likely to be subject to friction from your footwear, says Vlahovic.

"There's a range of genetic disorders known as epidermolysis bullosa, that can cause blisters," she explains. "Many people know they have it because it developed in childhood, but there's a subset of people who might not know that they have it - or might not know the extent of it - until they undergo a very traumatic experience, like military boot camp or running a marathon. So if you see a multitude of blisters, especially if you've never or rarely had blisters before, you should see a doctor."

Blisters on the toes or on top of the foot can also indicate contact dermatitis, she adds: "That might indicate that you're allergic to some component of your shoes or socks, so that's an appropriate time to see a doctor, as well."

Other times to see a doctor are when you keep getting blisters, or if they appear to be infected, or if you have pus-filled blisters on the bottoms of the feet. Pus-filled blisters can be a form of psoriasis , Vlahovic says.

How to Prevent Foot Blisters: 5 Tips

Most blister protection tips focus on choosing the right shoe for the activity you're doing. Proper footwear is the first line of defense against blisters, Vlahovic and Rahnama both say.

Here are their tips.

1. Look for Shoes That Match Your Foot Shape

Wear shoes that accommodate how your foot is shaped, Vlahovic recommends. "Some people have contracted toes or bunions and are trying to wear narrow shoes, and that's not going to work."

If either of these applies to you or you have a wide foot, look for a shoe with a wider fit and a wider toe box.

2. Avoid Wearing Brand-New Shoes for Long Stretches of Time

If you're going on a trip where you'll be doing a lot of walking , Rahnama says leave the brand-new shoes at home and reach instead for a pair that are broken in. "People like to mark a special occasion by inaugurating a new pair of shoes, but just as you wouldn't put on a new pair of shoes for a marathon, don't do it on a trip," he says.

What exactly does it mean for shoes to be broken in (but not necessarily so worn out that they no longer provide support)? It means that you've worn them for at least a few days to give the material time to soften and adjust to your feet, so that there's no friction that could potentially lead to a blister.

That goes for hiking or other activities, too, Vlahovic adds. "Going out on a decent hike with a brand-new pair of hiking boots is an invitation to misery for most people."

She adds that hikers might want to double up on socks for extra cushioning.

3. Make Sure You're Wearing the Right Size Shoe

Vlahovic also points out that if you keep getting blisters, you might be wearing the wrong size shoe. "If that's the case, you can go to an athletic or a running store and have your feet measured with something called a Brannock device [a metal device you step on to measure the length and width of your foot], which you probably did at some point when you were a kid," she says.

4. Try Moisture-Wicking Socks or Insoles

If your feet tend to sweat a lot, that combined with friction will make you blister-prone, she adds. "You can get a moisture-wicking insole, or another thing I often recommend is copper-based socks, which help wick away moisture."

5. Wear Shoes That Feel Comfortable

When deciding on a pair of shoes, Vlahovic says first impressions are usually accurate. "If the shoes don't feel comfortable when you try them on, they probably won't feel good later," she says. "A break-in period shouldn't be necessary if the shoes fit well and are the right size. A properly fitting shoe, a good barrier inside, keeping the moisture level down - that's as good a recipe as you'll find for avoiding blisters."

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Sources

1. Blisters. Cleveland Clinic . April 30, 2021.
2. Rushton R et al. Friction Blisters of the Feet: A New Paradigm to Explain Causation. Journal of Athletic Training . January 2024.
3. Bedsores (Pressure Injuries). Cleveland Clinic . February 24, 2023.