Blisters can occur with any type of friction against the skin. It is an elevation of the skin from the underlying structures filled with clear or bloody fluid. The most common areas on the foot that they occur are at the back of the heel, the ball of the foot, and at the toes.

Blisters can be caused by poor fitting shoes, hyperhidrosis, or structural deformities like bunions, hammertoes, or haglund’s deformity.

You can prevent blisters by decreasing or modifiying either the activity or the shoewear causing the friction. Make sure shoes are proper for the activity you are doing. Allow a break-in period for all new shoes. Sometimes proper socks decrease the friction as well. A simple change in shoes can sometimes alleviate the pain, talk to your podiatrist about this.

Diagnosis is usually made by clinical examination.

Podiatric Care usually depends on the size of the blister, extent of involvement, and location. Blisters can lead to infection which can become severe. It is not always best to “pop” or deroof the blister as the covering can be protective. The cause of the blister should always be treated to prevent further injury.