Blisters develop through pressure or rubbing. Mostly you find them on feet or hands.

Blisters are sores, which can develop during leisure time, playing sport, walking or merely after taking a long stroll through the town center, for example. Mostly they develop on feet as a result of not wearing-in new shoes or shoes that are too tight.

The actual reason why they develop is, however, the thin skin found on the feet and hands, which does not endure prolonged rubbing. As a result, it responds with irritation. Like a burn wound, fluid extravasates from blood vessels into tissue. The resulting blister is actually a defense reaction, for the fluid in the blister protects the tissue below from further harm. If rubbing continues, however, the blister can pop and a wound can develop.

Protect sores and blisters from further rubbing with a padded, adhesive blister plaster until the skin has recovered. There are also special blister plasters, which are cut to size for the typical problem areas such as the heels, balls of the feet and toes.

Do not open any blisters before they have dried up. The thin skin below is very sensitive and in danger of infection. Treat any blisters that have already popped with disinfectant.

In order to avoid sores and blisters, make sure that you not only wear the right shoes, but also socks that do not slip. Before going for a hike or run, it is advisable to gently treat the feet with a skin care cream. It is also important to keep feet that sweat easily dry.

Normally, there is no need to see a physician. Medical assistance is only then needed when a blister becomes infected, which, as a rule, can be recognized by a yellowish, purulent secretion.