Foot Blisters and Cleats

New shoes are amongst the leading causes of foot blisters. Blisters are normally caused by rubbing while cleats are in their “breaking down” and conforming period (Nike calls this “customizing”). Shoes can rub on the side of the toes, the heel, and sometimes the balls of the feet as well as other areas of the foot.

If you continue to have blisters even after you have worn your cleats for a significant amount of time you either need 1) a bigger or smaller sized shoe, 2) a better quality pair of cleats, or 3) custom made orthoses.

The fluids produced in the sacks that are caused by the rubbing action are the body’s natural response to the friction. It is key to remember that blisters are actually a first line of defense for your body. Here is a good picture of a "heel" blister.

If a blister is filled with fluid it is best left un-popped as the fluid is protecting the area below the skin during the time it takes for the skin to harden.

While the blister is hardening, you may want to consider using mole skin. Personally, I have had good experience with the stuff from my days as an army medic.

Blister prevention measures include, using foot powder, or baby powder in the sock to keep the feet as dry as possible. It is also a good idea to change socks every 90 minutes or so, especially in hot weather.

Once foot blisters break, it is imperative that you use anti-microbial and anti-fungal power, cream or spray - as the blister has become, quite literally, an open wound.

We were surprised to read that anti-perspirant spray is being used by some athletes in order to prevent blistering. Since we cannot find scietific research to substantiate the effectiveness of this practice, nor to measure the collateral implications of retarding the feet’s natural sweating function, we suggest you ask your sports podiatrist before trying this.

From our stand-point, powder, for example, absorbs sweat after it is produced. Anti-perspirants block the production of sweat in the first place, and thus we are concerned about a situation where a foot is being rubbed, but is not producing the bodily fluid defense mechanism we alluded to above.

Also, perspiration is a natural defense against heat exhaustion and stroke.

So in our opinion the jury is still out on anti-perspirants.

If blisters have ANY color at all in the fluid (yellow, black, red, etc.) it is imperative you consult a physician as the blister may be infected. Streaky redness around the blister are an even more urgent sign of infection and should be seen immediately by qualified professionals.

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