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Foot blisters are fairly common, and they often clear up on their own. However, if you are regularly getting blisters, have an infected blister, or if you're diabetic, you may want to see a foot doctor for treatment. Here's a look at how a podiatrist might treat a blister and how you can reduce the risk of getting blisters.

Treatments That Help Blisters

If the blister is a one-time occurrence and it's not infected, the podiatrist may cover it with a bandage and give you home care instructions. They may tell you to keep the blister dry and covered. The foot doctor might also prescribe antibiotic ointment you can apply to the blister to keep it from getting infected. When a blister is large and troublesome, the foot doctor may drain it to release the fluid and then apply a bandage.

If you're having problems with frequent blisters, your foot doctor might perform a gait analysis to see if the way you walk is putting pressure on your foot that causes blisters to form. They might also assess the type of shoes and socks you wear and advise you on changes to make.

Your foot doctor might suggest you wear shoe inserts to pad the area around the blister or to support your foot so it doesn't rub against your shoe. You might buy the inserts off the shelf or the doctor might have custom orthotics made for you. If you have poor circulation or poor sensation in your feet, your foot doctor may want to monitor your blister carefully so infections can be prevented if possible and treated as soon as symptoms develop. Your podiatrist might give you a medical boot to wear, if the blister is bad enough, that relieves pressure around the blister while protecting the soles of your feet from injury.

Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Getting Blisters

Follow the advice of your foot doctor when it comes to the type of socks and shoes to wear. You may need to wear seamless socks and supportive shoes. Your foot doctor might also advise you to limit wearing shoes with heels since these put pressure on your toes and can cause toe blisters.

It's also important to keep your feet dry since wet skin can form blisters more easily. If you have trouble with sweaty feet, let your doctor know so your feet can be treated if necessary. Also, give new shoes time to break in before you wear them for long periods while running, walking, or playing sports. Your feet need time to get used to the shoes or blisters could develop.

For more information, contact a foot doctor near you, such as https://www.familyfootcenter.net/, to learn more.