Blisters On Feet Treatment

Everyone has had a friction blister on a foot or hand at one time or another. These blisters are formed on the feet by friction against the skin from an illfitting shoe or abrasive hosiery, and on the hands by unaccustomed, repetitive activity such as raking, laying bricks, or swinging with your kids on the jungle gym. The whitish pockets of skin that form in response to the friction fill with clear fluid between the skin’s inner and outer layers. You can actually feel when a blister is beginning to form. The spot feels warm, irritated, inflamed, and then downright painful if you don’t remove the friction and pressure.

To Pop or Not to Pop?
Schools of thought differ on whether or not to pop a blister. Some say to leave it alone, whether large or small. Wash the area and swab it with a disinfectant, pat dry, apply a bit of medicinal salve or treatment oil, cover it with an adhesive bandage or moleskin, and let nature take her course. Others suggest that if you pop the blister, especially if it’s a large one, healing will take place faster. If a blister breaks on its own, treat it the same as if you’d just popped it. To open a blister, first wash and dry the area thoroughly. Swab the blister with a disinfectant and carefully puncture the edge with a flame-sterilized needle or razor blade. Drain the fluid, but don’t peel off any skin. Allow the layers of skin to adhere. Cleanse with disinfectant again and pat dry. Apply medicinal salve or treatment oil, then cover the area with a bandage. Regardless of your approach, always remove the bandage at night to allow the blister to breathe and dry out. Reapply the disinfectant, salve, and bandage in the morning after your shower.

Note: Do not attempt self-treatment of blisters if you have circulatory problems or are diabetic.

SIMPLE BLISTER BARRIER AND TREATMENT OIL

This easy-to-make formula serves as an effective blister preventive barrier for the feet and a remedial treatment for both feet and hands once blisters have formed. Extra thick, with staying power, it conditions skin, helps heal damaged tissue, acts as a mild astringent, reduces inflammation, and prevents infection.

15 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
1 tablespoon castor base oil
1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

EQUIPMENT: Dropper, dark glass bottle with dropper top or screw cap
PREP TIME: 15 minutes, plus 24 hours to synergize
YIELD: Approximately 2 tablespoons
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year

APPLICATION:
2 times daily, or as desired Add the lavender and lemon essential oils drop by drop directly to a storage bottle. Add the castor and vitamin E oils. Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously for 2 minutes to blend. Label the bottle and place in a dark location that’s between 60° and 80°F for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before each use. To prevent blisters from forming on your feet, apply a thin coating to dry feet prior to doing any physical activity (and make sure your footwear fits properly). To treat new blisters, see To Pop or Not to Pop (opposite page), and apply 1 or 2 drops of this oil to each blister.

Bonus
Apply 1 drop per nail and massage thoroughly to condition dry fingernails and cuticles and encourage growth. Omit the essential oils and it can be used as a thick lip gloss!

TENDER TISSUE DISINFECTANT AND REPAIR LINIMENT SPRAY

This lightly fragranced spray cleanses and gently dries oozing blisters, inhibits the growth of bacteria, and reduces inflammation. I recommend it for friction blisters on the hands or feet; be aware that it will sting raw skin or open wounds.

1 cup unflavored vodka
25 drops myrrh essential oil
25 drops palmarosa essential oil

EQUIPMENT: Plastic or glass spritzer bottle
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
YIELD: Approximately 1 cup
STORAGE: Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 2 years

APPLICATION:
3 times daily, or as needed Combine the vodka with the myrrh and palmarosa essential oils in a spritzer bottle. Screw the cap on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend. Label, date, and store in a dark cabinet.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Shake well before using. To treat new blisters, see To Pop or Not to Pop on page 82, and use this spray formula as the disinfectant. If you walk around barefoot a lot, spray it onto your blistered areas several times per day to speed healing and prevent infection.

Bonus
This is an effective healing agent for blemishes, boils, cuts, scrapes, oozing rashes, and any minor infection of the skin.