Ask Dr. K: Break in shoes slowly to prevent blisters

DEAR DOCTOR K: I wore a new pair of hiking boots on my vacation and now have several painful blisters on my feet. What’s the best way to treat them?

DEAR READER: It sounds like you have friction blisters. A friction blister is a soft pocket of raised skin filled with clear fluid, caused by irritation from continuous rubbing or pressure.

The irritation – in your case caused by new hiking boots – slightly damages the skin. The uppermost layer of skin separates from the layer beneath, and fluid accumulates in the space that’s left.

Friction blisters typically drain on their own within days. A new layer of skin forms beneath the blister and eventually the blistered skin peels away. As a result, friction blisters don’t generally require any special treatment.

Be sure to keep the blisters clean and dry. And also keep them intact: The skin provides a natural protection against infection. Do not try to drain the blister or pierce or cut away the overlying skin. In doing so, you can allow bacteria to get into the wound and cause an infection.

If a blister breaks on its own, wash the area with soap and water. Then gently pat it dry, use an antibacterial ointment and cover it with a bandage.

If pressure or friction continues in the same area, the blister may last longer. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid further irritation (for example, if your new hiking boots were the only shoes you brought on your vacation). In this case, protect the blister with a more heavy-duty sterile bandage.

Continued friction may cause the blister to break open, ooze fluid and become infected. See your doctor immediately if you think you have an infection, notice significant redness or drainage that is not clear fluid, or develop a fever.