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The key to treating blisters begins with preventing them. The best and easiest way to avoid developing blisters on your feet is to simply wear shoes that fit. If your shoes are too long or too thin, then while engaging in a lot of physical activity, blisters have a high probability of forming. This is because blisters are formed through friction - minimizing this force is your objective.

Another mistake that can lead to the formation of blisters is wearing shoes without socks. When wearing closed-toed shoes, you should always wear socks as direct contact between the shoe and skin can exacerbate the friction. Also, try not to wear socks that are too thin; the thicker they are, the more protection they will provide.

Unfortunately, blisters are not always prevented and, in some cases, seemingly cannot be prevented, so some methods of treatment are necessary for when they develop. Keep in mind that if you have a blister that is small and does not cause any pain, no treatment may be necessary. Simply waiting until the problem remedies itself naturally can save a lot of effort and can potentially prevent accidental infection. This is the ideal situation, but it is not always realistic.

Blisters can inhibit your ability to so much as walk, so the key to treating blisters is to eliminate the pain without adding the risk of infection. Probably the most common method of dealing with a blister is to drain it. Begin by washing the area. Next, poke a small hole in the blister with a sanitary object (for example, to sanitize a sewing needle, hold it over a candle flame for a few seconds). Then drain out all of the liquid and clean the area with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and remove the dead skin before applying a fresh bandage. Always be certain to use sterile equipment to pop and clean the blister. While popping the blister is not the ideal solution, it is generally impractical to stay off of one's feet for a good deal of time to wait for it to heal on its own.

Alternatively, you can focus on reducing the pain and inconvenience of the blister without actually immediately eliminating it. Wrap an ice pack in a towel or soak a washcloth in cold water; hold them against the blister for a few minutes to decrease swelling and relieve some of the discomfort.

One radical solution has been used by Boston Red Sox player Julian Tavarez with reportedly good results. A pitcher, he needs to take especially good care of his throwing hand which can develop blisters from time to time. In a practice not yet suggested by any medical professional, Tavarez pops the blister, cleans it with rubbing alcohol, and rubs the skin in a mixture of Red Bull energy drink and crushed Aspirin tablets. He claims to have used this method for several years with nothing but success.

Of course, if the blister is particularly painful or if you have a chronic blister problem, consult your doctor. She or he should be able to provide more personalized advice on how to deal with the problem as everyone has a unique personal health.

Learn more about this author, Art Vandelay.
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