Author Topic: Barefoot Running Blisters (Read 4917 times)

ComebackKid · « **on:** May 27, 2007, 03:57:17 PM »

I've been trying to progress to sprinting barefoot on cement and today I thought i was ready.

Well I happened to be wrong.

Horrible Blisters on left foot, and never really had blisters before. I looked around online and most treatment was draining the fluid or leavin it be.

Any suggestions?

Thomas Edwards · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2007, 09:54:47 PM »

wash the blisters with lemon juice, and then wash it off. the acid helps them to become calouses. *extreme disclaimer* this has worked for me, but i know of two other people who it DID NOT work for. be cautious

Steven Low · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2007, 10:58:48 PM »

I pop mine and tear off the skin. Then I put salt on them. Heals faster but hurts like hell.

If you don't want to do that then I would suggest draining them with a needle and leaving the skin on (or rip it off if you want). Just make sure they're moisturized and clean. Hurts A LOT if you let them dry out and crack.

chipset · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2007, 11:50:27 PM »

Salt on an open blister?

That's hardcore

Do you put a bandage there afterwards?

Muse_of_Fire · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2007, 09:49:31 AM »

In ballet we pop them and cut away the dead skin, then pour rubbing alcohol over them. It dries them out and helps them form into callouses, which is what you want so they don't blister again.

Hurts like a you-know-what but it helps the skin build toughness for later.

Keep pouring the alcohol over them for as long as the skin is still tender.

Good luck!

ComebackKid · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2007, 12:16:06 PM »

I drained them and have been keeping them sterile, getting a little better, i was thinking of cutting away the roof/dead skin, what's best to use for this, knife left in boiling water? Also how long can I expect before I can run again pain free? Lastly, what is better the alcohol or salt? [In regards to recovery time, screw pain

] Thanks for the all the help guys =D

Andy Animus Tran · « **Reply #6 on:** May 29, 2007, 01:52:28 PM »

You can just go out and buy some moleskin, cut it into a donut shape to fit around the blister. It'll protect the blister while it heals, and since it's protected, it'll heal faster. That's what we generally did in Boy Scouts from hiking blisters. (It's not real moleskin.. just go to the podiatric aisle of the pharmacy and you'll find it. It'll probably say, "Blister Treatment" or something on it.)

Muse_of_Fire · « **Reply #7 on:** May 29, 2007, 06:55:11 PM »

I've never used salt. I swear by the alcohol. I just use sterile nail scissors to cut away the skin. Moleskin is good to protect it; alternatively there is a substance called Nu-skin, which I prefer because in my experience moleskin comes off easily with sweat and activity.

I would suggest getting back to activity right away. You can use a bandage to cover the popped blister while you work, to keep the sock from sticking to it, but the idea is that you want to toughen the skin so it will callous over in time, and then blisters will no longer be an issue.

Make sure you keep it clean though, you don't want for infection to set in.

I would suggest doing the alcohol twice per day; morning and night. I usually just hold my foot over the bathtub and pour the alcohol right over it.

Steven Low · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2007, 08:15:05 PM »

I swear by salt.

Not sure which is better, but you can see the effects of dilute salt when (or rather if) you go to the beach and your cuts and wounds pretty much are fully healed in a few days at the most. Burns like a mother though.

Alcohol will help keep it relatively sterile though which is nice, but salt does pretty much exactly the same thing as salt is used as a preservative (especially for meat in the olden days).

Muse_of_Fire · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2007, 12:22:33 PM »

Heh. I've never heard of or tried using salt but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Maybe this summer I'll have to do an experiment and see which works better; talk to some of the girls in company, do a little field test.

I guess it comes down to personal preference, CBK.

ComebackKid · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2007, 03:01:52 PM »

Sounds good to me, =D I cut off the remnants of the blister and washed alcohol over them since i wasn't quite sure if i should use table salt or epsom salt or some medical salt we have. worked a little today and i'm a helluva lot better, really appreciate all the help, stay useful :]

Steven Low · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2007, 09:33:59 PM »

One of my gymnastics coaches told me to go into the shower and pee on my rips. Never did try that one but I know a few other people besides the coach who swore by that too.... lol.

ComebackKid · « **Reply #12 on:** June 06, 2007, 06:56:38 AM »

that may be the funniest/sickest thing i've ever heard in regards to training/recovery methods.

Ryan Ford · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:59:19 PM »

Interesting methods you guys have. I just grit my teeth and rip it off with my fingernails. Thats all, I don't put anything on them. When they grow back, they'll be tougher.

FreeStyleFox · « **Reply #14 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:46:06 PM »

Usely for hands I do the same thing as demon. Use my teeth to make the hole for drainage. Then rip it off. For treatment afterwards I now vault walls. to "beat up" the new skin underneath.

Overdrive · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2007, 12:01:15 PM »

Damn, MoF's rubbing alcohol trick really does burn like hell lol I almost broke the towel bar in the bathroom lol So if you try it, find something indestructible to hold onto, personally I pushed up against the walls in the bathroom, but find what works for you lol

Overdrive · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2007, 05:36:16 PM »

Okay, here's what I'm doing to treat mine. I drain the blister and cut away most of the dead skin with cuticle clippers, and then I splash some rubbing alcohol on them and put one of these on each blister (I have one on the ball of each foot) http://www.drugstore.com/qxp79971_333181_sespider/band_aid/advanced_healing_blister_cushions.htm
it works really well, it's not as hard to walk as it is with a regular band-aid, it helps heal them faster and also it's waterproof! lol I apply the alcohol 2x a day as advised by MoF

Steven Low · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2007, 07:49:23 PM »

No one wants to try the salt? Hehe..

Glad to see you tried the alcohol though.

Overdrive · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2007, 07:58:34 PM »

If the salt burns as much or maybe slightly more than the alcohol I might give is a shot, is there a certain kind of salt you'd recommend? also, I feel like the burn on the alcohol subsides after a minute, my guess is it runs past the blister lol does the salt chill out after a couple few seconds?

Steven Low · « **Reply #19 on:** June 12, 2007, 08:22:45 PM »

Just regular salt is fine.. salt definitely burns for a while especially if you leave it on, haha. Heals up my rips (toughens rather) within a day or two which is why I do it so I can start practicing again on them (e.g. swinging with my bodyweight on them).

News:

Author Topic: Barefoot Running Blisters (Read 4917 times)