Contents
A well-groomed and unchanged skin on the feet affects our activity and well-being not only for aesthetic reasons. The structure of the skeletal system, blood supply, amount of adipose tissue, sweating or external factors such as shoes, socks and thermal conditions are just some of the variables that affect the health of the feet and their skin. The impact of unfavorable conditions on the skin of the feet may lead to blisters. How to deal with them?
What are blisters and how do they arise?
The bladder is a lofty eruption filled with pale fluid. It is a common ailment among athletes and physically active people, soldiers or women wearing high-heeled shoes. It is formed as a result of separating the upper layers of the epidermis from those lying the lowest – it is formed between the granular and spinous layers. The upper layers – horny, light (found in the thick and hairless epidermis, present e.g. on the heels) and granular form the vault of the bladder. A gap is formed between the separated layers, in which fluid from the capillaries accumulates.
although blisters they are rarely the cause of more serious medical ailments, usually they are painful and cause a temporary limitation in the patient’s activity. That is why it is worth preventing their formation, and when they occur – take steps to speed up their healing.
How can I prevent blisters on my feet?
Blisters arise as a result of friction and pressure on the skin. Most often, their cause is poorly chosen, tight footwear in which the pressure on the foot is not evenly distributed. Therefore, the key to preventing blisters is wearing footwear that does not squeeze the foot and does not rub the skin against the shoe. Footwear should also be adjusted to provide the skin with thermal comfort and adequate moisture. Researchers have shown that increased temperature and humidity contribute to the formation blisters on the feet[1]. For this reason, especially in summer and with intense, long-term activity, it is worth taking care of comfortable and airy footwear.
A good protection against blistering is provided by a physical barrier between the shoe and the skin to reduce friction. In this aspect, well-fitting socks will work, which at the same time limit the contact of the skin with sweat, ensuring optimal moisture conditions. However, they do not necessarily have to be socks made of natural fibers. A study involving 35 long-distance runners showed that socks made of 100% acrylic contributed to the formation of fewer blisters and their diameter compared to socks made of 100% cotton [2].
In addition to socks, which, unfortunately, for aesthetic reasons, we will not put on every footwear, it is worth using blister patches in places particularly exposed to pressure and friction. Research has shown that the most effective way to reduce the formation of blisters is to use a dressing in the most susceptible places. Compared to the use of, inter alia, socks or antiperspirants, it is this method that brings the best results [3].
What to do when a blister appears on the foot? How to choose the right blister patches?
Blisters they are not a serious ailment, but they often cause pain and limit physical activity. When they arise, it is worth taking steps to speed up their healing.
When we observe bladder on the footits vault should not be removed. It protects the lower layers of the skin and provides an optimal environment for wound healing. Removing this separated section of skin increases the risk of infection and can cause more pain.
As soon as possible after the appearance of the bladder, it is worth applying a compression dressing that ensures contact of the bladder vault with the lower layers and limits the accumulation of fluid in the resulting fissure. This will reduce pain and speed up bladder healing. Although there are indications that the puncture of the bladder accelerates its healing, we should not do it on our own due to the risk of infection, which would significantly impede the entire process.
An important element accelerating the healing of wounds is to ensure a moist environment, proper temperature and pH at the site of the lesion. Therefore, on the arising blisters on the feet it is worth using special dressings, e.g. hydrocolloid or hydrogel plasters. They provide optimal humidity and appropriate pH, which supports the cells involved in healing and accelerates this process. They protect the damaged area of the skin from drying out and prevent bacteria and infection. Dressings of this type relieve pain and protect the bladder against friction and pressure. Thanks to this, the risk of damage to the bladder vault is reduced, and if this should happen, they protect the wound against infection. Blister patches Salvequick Blister Rescue are hydrogel dressings designed for use on blisters on the feet. They stay in place well, providing optimal conditions for the healing of lesions. They create a barrier between the bladder and external factors and reduce pressure and friction. They can also be safely removed without pain or damage to the wound.
References
1. Brzeziński, Piotr. “Diseases of the skin of the feet occurring during military exercises and their impact on the activity of the soldier.” Military drug 87 (2009): 80-83.
2. Polliack, Adrian A., and Samuel Scheinberg. «A new technology for reducing shear and friction forces on the skin: implications for blister care in the wilderness setting.» Wilderness & environmental medicine 17.2 (2006): 109-119.
3. Knapik, Joseph J., et al. «Friction blisters.» Sports Medicine 20.3 (1995): 136-147.
4. Czarnecka-Operacz, Magdalena. “The use of hydrocolloid dressings in the treatment of wounds and ulcers.”
5. Worthing, Robert M., Raechel L. Percy, and Jeremy D. Joslin. «Prevention of friction blisters in outdoor pursuits: a systematic review.» Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 28.2 (2017): 139-149.
Herring, Kirk M., and Douglas H. Richie Jr. «Friction blisters and sock fiber composition. A double-blind study.» Journal of the American podiatric medical association 80.2 (1990): 63-71.
[1] Polliack, Adrian A., and Samuel Scheinberg. «A new technology for reducing shear and friction forces on the skin: implications for blister care in the wilderness setting.» Wilderness & environmental medicine 17.2 (2006): 109-119.
[2] Herring, Kirk M., and Douglas H. Richie Jr. «Friction blisters and sock fiber composition. A double-blind study.» Journal of the American podiatric medical association 80.2 (1990): 63-71.
[3] Worthing, Robert M., Raechel L. Percy, and Jeremy D. Joslin. «Prevention of friction blisters in outdoor pursuits: a systematic review.» Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 28.2 (2017): 139-149.