The Sinulog Aftermath: Foot Blisters

CEBU, Philippines — The Sinulog is mainly over. The sound of the drumbeats has petered out. Yet for sure the grand parade has left its merry marks in the revelers.

The looming weather disturbance was not able to hold back the festive mood. In fact, it made for an overcast – and at times showery – day all throughout. Otherwise, the sun would have left sunburns on the skin of both parade performers and spectators alike.

There’s still another unwelcome marks, though, that the Sinulog has certainly left on the merrymakers. The long walk along the winding parade route must have left blisters on many feet. These little pockets of fluid on the feet can be big discomfort.

Blisters form a bubble from the outer layer of skin called the epidermis. These are often the result of excess moisture, friction, and extreme temperatures, and can be filled with pus or blood. Blisters, uncomfortable and unsightly as they are, function as a natural bodily response to prevent deeper skin tissues from suffering damage.

Blisters on the feet can be quite painful. These are best prevented, in the first place. But once it’s there, it just has to be dealt with properly.

The website www.buoyhealth.com shares ways for dealing with foot blisters:

Using Bandages and Gauze

To protect a blister and allow it to heal, it shall be covered up with a bandage or wrapped in gauze. It can be difficult to keep bandages on the feet due to sweat and wearing shoes. So wrapping gauze around a foot blister is often a more effective approach. Hydrocolloid dressings are an over-the-counter solution to promote blister healing and manage blister pain.

Allowing Fresh Air

When one is at home and not on his feet, the bandage or gauze shall be removed to allow fresh air to reach the blister. This will reduce the amount of moisture on affected feet and promote faster healing of the blister.

Blister Taping

Rather than waiting for blisters to form before bandaging the feet, one can preemptively tape them to prevent blisters instead. Long-distance runners and other endurance athletes commonly tape their feet to protect the skin's surface from rubbing. Research has also shown that taping the feet can provide thermal insulation and spread the shear load when using stretchy tape.

Using Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is commonly used for sunburns, but its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties make it excellent for foot blisters too. Much of the pain of a blister comes from the swelling, and aloe vera is known to reduce inflammation. One can either buy commercially packaged aloe or cut a leaf off an aloe plant at home.

As much as possible, blisters on the feet should be left intact to prevent infection and damage to the other layers of skin and tissue underneath them. Blisters will normally heal on their own over time as new skin grows underneath the blister and takes its place. So, perhaps the best way to deal with foot blisters is to simply leave it alone.

Blister treatment – even open blisters – can often be performed at home, with natural and over-the-counter remedies. But blisters that make walking very difficult or that cause severe pain require seeing a doctor. Blisters that are accompanied by chills and nausea may be signs of an infection.