When you join the Massapequa Road Runners, the local running club, you receive an array of discounts on products and services at various establishments. You will also receive other benefits like improved physical conditioning, and even new clothes. Something you may not be expecting to get while taking to the streets with the Road Runners, though, is a blister on your foot. Don’t worry, with a little proper foot care you can easily treat, and sometimes even prevent, blisters from forming on your feet.

Here are some tips for dealing with blisters when they happen:

  • If your blister isn’t painful or bothersome, do not try to drain it. Your skin is the body’s best defense against bacteria and the layer over the bubble serves that function. Instead, cover a small one loosely with an adhesive bandage or a large one with a plastic-coated, porous gauze pad.
  • When you have a blister that is painful and disrupts your ability to walk normally, then you come in to see Dr. Gasparini. If you are out of town and visiting Foot Specialists of Long Island is not an option, you can attempt to drain it using the following steps:
  1. In order to decrease the risk of contracting an infection while draining a blister, start by washing your hands and the blister with soap and warm water. You may even want to swab the blister itself with rubbing alcohol.
  2. Use rubbing alcohol to sterilize a needle and then puncture the blister at its edge. Allow the fluid to drain and then pat down the skin flap.
  3. Apply antibiotic ointment to further decrease the risk of infection and cover loosely with a sterile gauze or bandage.
  4. Prevent a blister from forming in the first place by wearing athletic socks that provide extra padding in areas likely to develop blisters. Also, choose footwear that fits your feet properly. Shoes that are too small or too large will make it more likely for you to end up with a blister.
  5. If you think that a blister has become infected—look for redness or pus, note any warmth or increasing pain—don’t try to handle it on your own. Contact our office immediately.

Whenever you develop stubborn blisters, Mark Gasparini, DPM, is here for you. Foot Specialists of Long Island is conveniently located in Massapequa, NY and we are prepare to handle all your foot and ankle needs with the first-class care you’ve come to expect from our practice. Call us at (516) 804-9038 or schedule an appointment online today.

Photo Credit: Sura Nualpradid via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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