Caring for blisters on the feet
Blisters come from friction and can quickly end a hike. It is best to react at the first burning feeling. Once the blister is there, keep it closed if possible: the skin over it protects against germs. Here you learn how to pad a blister, what to do if it has burst, and how to recognise an infection.
- 5–10 minutes
Explained simply
A blister forms when the shoe rubs the same spot again and again. Fluid collects under the skin, and it hurts.
The skin over the blister is like its own plaster and protects against dirt. So you do not pop the blister but stick a soft blister plaster over it.
It is best to stop the first time it burns. Then you can tape the spot before a blister even forms.
How it works
Friction and moisture separate the top layer of skin from the one below. The body fills the gap with tissue fluid – this cushions and protects the injured skin.
A blister plaster acts like a second skin: it softens the pressure and keeps the spot clean and moist so it can heal underneath.
What matters
React early: tape hot spots before a blister forms.
Clean, dry skin so the plaster sticks.
If the blister has burst: leave the skin flap on, rinse, cover.
Safety: what to watch out for
Redness, warmth, pus, red streaks or fever are signs of infection – then have it checked by a doctor.
People with diabetes always show foot wounds to a doctor early.
A first-aid course with the Red Cross or another aid organisation shows you all of this in practice. In an emergency: 112 (in Austria also 144).
Step by step
- 1
Stop at the first burning feeling
If it burns or rubs, take a break at once, take off shoe and sock and look. You can still tape a red hot spot now before a blister forms.
- 2
Clean hands and skin
Wash or disinfect your hands. Gently wipe the skin around the blister with clean water and let it dry well.
- 3
Apply a blister plaster
Warm the plaster briefly in your hand and stick it smoothly over the closed blister. It stays on until it comes off by itself.
- 4
If the blister has burst
Do not pull off the skin flap. Rinse the spot with clean drinking water and cover it with a blister plaster or a sterile dressing.
Leave the skin flap on.
- 5
Carry on dry
Put on dry socks, check the lacing, walk more slowly. Wet socks soften the skin and cause new blisters.
- 6
Check daily
Look at the spot every evening. If it becomes red, hot, pus-filled or you get a fever, have it checked by a doctor.
Common mistakes
- Popping a closed blister
- Pulling off the skin flap
- Sticking a plaster on damp skin
- Walking on with a hot spot until it bleeds
- Keeping wet socks on
Quick view
Materials
Blister plaster
Only stick onto clean, dry skin; check the expiry date.
Sterile dressings and bandages
For a burst blister
Open sterile packaging only immediately before use; observe the expiry date.
PET bottle (clear, max. 2 litres)
Clean drinking water for rinsing
Do not heat or place in a fire.
Hiking and trekking socks
A dry spare pair
Suitable for
- Blisters on heels, toes and balls of the feet
- Hot spots before a blister forms
Not suitable for
- Blisters from burns or frostbite – see there
- Infected blisters – then get them checked by a doctor
- People with diabetes or circulation problems – show foot wounds to a doctor early
Prerequisites
- Clean hands
- Plasters in your pack
Safety
- This text does not replace a first-aid course. First aid is learned through hands-on practice under instruction. In an emergency always call professional help – via the local emergency number (112 in the EU) – and follow the dispatcher's instructions.
- Get medical help if the skin around it becomes red, hot and swollen, pus forms, red streaks appear or a fever develops.
- Do not pop a closed blister. The skin over it is the best protection against germs.
How it works
If the shoe rubs the same spot again and again, the upper layers of skin separate and fluid collects between them. The lifted skin is like a natural plaster. A blister plaster pads the spot, spreads the pressure and keeps it moist and clean so it can heal underneath.
Advantages
- Simple and quick
- Often prevents the end of the trip
Disadvantages
- Large blisters heal slowly
- Plasters stick badly to wet skin
Deep knowledge
Background
Blisters are among the most common complaints on hikes and pilgrim routes. First-aid organisations advise leaving blisters closed and covering them; popping them is left to professionals.
Variants
- Without a blister plaster
- Without a blister plaster, pad the spot with a sterile dressing and fix it with tape, without putting adhesive on the blister itself.
Common mistakes
- Popping a closed blister
- Pulling off the skin flap
- Sticking a plaster on damp skin
- Walking on with a hot spot until it bleeds
- Keeping wet socks on
Limits and risks
- Does not replace a first-aid course
- No medication or ointments
Material alternatives
Derived from material properties: a substitute must have all relevant properties. Observe the notes on the substitute.
- Sterile dressings and bandages
- Cotton cloth / T-shirt (Removes coarse particles only – no disinfection.), Mosquito net (Flammable – keep away from flames.), Fine cloth or muslin net against flies (Keep clean and dry; do not hang it over the flames.)
Results come exclusively from structured entries. No improvised instructions are generated.
Sources (2)
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) – Global First Aid Reference Centre (2020): International First Aid, Resuscitation, and Education Guidelines 2020 · Blisters: leave closed, cover, watch for signs of infection
- Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): Erste Hilfe – Informationen und Kurse · Wound care by lay people