A Guide to Blister Management

In brief

Friction blisters are a common annoyance for virtually all active patients at every level—from weekend warriors to professional athletes. Whereas small friction blisters are usually self-limited and amenable to conservative treatment, larger ones generally respond better when they are first aseptically drained. Proper care of the blister site will ward off infection, a possible complication of both spontaneous rupture and therapeutic draining. Properly fitted shoes, socks, and athletic equipment, together with the judicious use of lubricants, can help prevent the formation of friction blisters.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bryan P. Bergeron

Dr Bergeron is vice president and director of planning and development for Sabri Systems, a medical software development company, and a research affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is a fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association.