Treating and Preventing Blood Blisters on Your Feet

Understanding Blood Blisters on Feet

Blood blisters on the feet can occur for a variety of reasons. They form when blood vessels under the skin's surface get damaged, allowing blood and fluid to pool in that area. The result is a reddish or dark blister filled with blood instead of the clear fluid found in friction blisters.

What Causes Blood Blisters on Feet

There are several potential causes of blood blisters on the feet:

• Wearing uncomfortable, tight, or new shoes that rub against the skin
• Injury from stepping on a sharp object like a thorn, nail, or piece of glass
• Certain medical conditions that affect blood vessels and circulation like diabetes
• Infections like warts or athlete's foot
• Genetic conditions like dyskeratosis congenita
• Side effects of medications that thin the blood or affect platelet function

Symptoms

The main symptom is a fluid-filled blister filled with blood instead of clear fluid. Other symptoms may include:

• Pain or tenderness
• Itching
• Skin redness
• Swelling
• Warmth or burning sensation
• Discoloration of the skin

Treating Blood Blisters on Feet

Most blood blisters can be managed at home without needing medical care. However, it's important not to pop or drain a blood blister. This increases the risk of infection.

Home Treatment Tips

• Wash the area gently with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment.
• Cover with a bandage or blister bandage to protect it.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed for discomfort.
• Wear comfortable, well-fitted shoes and socks.
• Apply ice packs wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling and pain.
• Keep your feet elevated when possible.
• Let the blister heal on its own. The blood will slowly reabsorb over time.

See Your Doctor If...

You should make an appointment with your doctor if:

• The blister does not seem to be healing or gets worse.
• Signs of infection develop, like increasing pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or pus.
• You have diabetes or circulation issues that affect wound healing.
• You develop a fever or the skin around the blister becomes red and swollen.
• New blood blisters keep appearing.

The doctor can properly drain and clean out infected blisters and prescribe topical or oral antibiotics if needed.

Preventing Blood Blisters on Feet

You can reduce your risk of developing blood blisters by:

• Wearing properly fitted, comfortable shoes with ample toe room.
• Wearing socks that wick moisture and prevent friction.
• Treating athletes foot promptly if it develops.
• Applying petroleum jelly to hot spots prone to blistering.
• Changing to fresh socks and shoes at midday if walking a lot.
• Checking your shoes for objects or uneven wear before putting them on.
• Treating calluses with moisturizer to keep them from cracking.
• Getting underlying health conditions treated.

Catching and treating any foot irritation early can help prevent progression to a blister. Pay attention to your feet's signals.

When to See a Podiatrist

See a foot specialist promptly if:

• Home treatments fail to help heal blood blisters.
• You develop blood blisters frequently.
• Blistering is accompanied by numbness, tingling, or color changes in the surrounding skin.
• You have diabetes, neuropathy, vascular disease, or other conditions that can impair healing.

A podiatrist can identify underlying contributors like pressure points that rub, friction spots in footwear, callus buildup, poor circulation, infections requiring prescription medications, and other problems. They can also surgically open, drain and debride serious blood blisters.

Ask About Advanced Treatment Options

Your podiatrist may recommend additional treatments like:

• Protective padding and products: Custom orthotics or padding to protect trouble areas.
• Medications: Antibiotics for infection or drugs to improve circulation.
• Surgery: Outpatient blister removal, toenail removal, or other procedures if indicated.
• Compression stockings: To help manage vein problems or deficient circulation.
• Wound care: For diabetes-related ulcers or non-healing blisters.

Early podiatry care of chronically blistered feet can help prevent complications and pain from progressing.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.