Options for larger blisters?

joconnell

Heya Folks,

As a follow on from the blisters discussion last week I popped out to get some compeed plasters - I have a part of support runners with a strong arch in them which causes some nasty blisters if not covered so I've gone with various combs of plasters socks and so on. I got some compeed plasters recently and stuck one on each arch which were healing from previous jaunts. After last saturdays run through I found that the area of skin on my left foot was roughly the same size as a medium plaster so rather than covering the entire lot, it pulled around the edges instead and eventually just came off with a patch of loose skin. My next ingenious idea was to turn two compeed plasters sideways and cover over the area that way, which then resulted in a really nasty area just at an intersection point of the two on the very underneath of my foot - utter bastard.

So I suppose the question is (since I can't find large compeed plasters for love nor money) what do people do for larger areas of torn skin? I could stick on some cotton wool and use that tape plaster stuff over it but is there a good tested solution? I'm not too far away from a first half marathon and I've still two distances of runs to build to yet!

Yours hobblingly,

John

n-dawg

I sometimes get very large blisters on my heel, as big as the largest compeed. Normally I avoid popping them at any cost until the skin underneath has had a chance to heal and toughen up. If it does pop its a world of pain to walk and run for up to 10days. What I have found helps is Vaseline on the wound... it prevents rubbing and stops my socks from sticking to the skin. I'm not sure if this is strictly the best thing to do as your putting Vaseline on an open wound! Talk to a Pharmacist and show them the blister, often they wont believe you about how big it is unless you show them. They should give you good advice about minimising healing time.

Iron Enthusiast

Try running specific socks (Elverys etc stock them) as they usually have more cushioning. Also as mentioned generous amounts of Vasaline can be used also to reduce fiction. If you having continous, on-going problems with a particular pair of runners it might just be that they don't fit properly and you need to change them for a pair that do.

Also (not familiar with your running background) it can take a while to build up tougher skin on your feet from running so a large increase in volume or distance can also be a contributing factor.

If you missing a big chunk of skin in a central area might just be best to take a few days off and let it heal instead of running the risk of making it worse.

Good luck!:pac:

joconnell

Much appreciated folks! I'd heard about the vaseline trick before - how much do you use? As in do you rub it in to the area or actually leave a thin film of it on the area (eg would stick to the sock). I've got 1000 mile socks but the culprit in this case is the sole of the shoe - at the arch on the outside there's a pretty large bit of plastic and when your foot warms up or perspires the cushioning starts to soften quite a bit and the top of the grey arch in this pic starts to rub against your foot. It's very annoying as the arch support inside the shoe was definitely the best placed out of the models I tried on for my foot.



I'll give the vaseline a go!

jayok77

An ex Irish Ranger Wing friend of mine shared the secret of using Methylated Spirits (purple liquid used to clean metal before painting) on exposed blisters which will quickly toughen up the skin. I was a bit sceptical when I heard this but further research showed its used as a disinfectant for small wounds in Italy.

Doesn't sting too much after the first time. Just dab is on with cotton wool. You can also toughen up your feet by having a foot bath on the soles of your feet in it. I had to get it in a specialsed paint shop beside the Red Cow Inn.

I've used it with some severly sore blisters which wouldn't heal as I kept running on them. Cover blisters up with heavy duty plaster for runs and then treat them with it before and afterwards and anytime you remember.

Also, you should always puncture blisters with a sterilised needle when they occur and squeeze the liquid out.