Blisters on feet usually heal best when you protect the skin, reduce friction, and keep it clean. For a small, unbroken blister, don’t pop it; cover it with a soft bandage or hydrocolloid dressing and avoid the shoes or activity that caused it.

Quick care

  • Wash gently with soap and water, then pat dry.
  • Cover with a padded or hydrocolloid dressing to reduce pressure and pain.
  • Use a donut-shaped piece of moleskin or padding around the blister if it’s on a pressure spot like the sole.
  • Keep it dry, and change socks if they get sweaty.

When it has popped

  • Wash the area, leave the skin flap in place, and apply petroleum jelly or a thin antibiotic ointment if needed.
  • Cover with a clean nonstick bandage and change it daily or if it gets wet or dirty.

What to avoid

  • Don’t peel off the blister skin.
  • Don’t keep wearing the shoes that rubbed it until it heals.
  • Avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine on the wound unless a clinician told you otherwise.

Preventing more

  • Wear well-fitting shoes and moisture-wicking socks.
  • Use moleskin, padding, or tape on areas that usually rub.
  • Stop early if you feel a hot spot or burning, since that often means a blister is forming.

Get medical help

Seek care if you see redness spreading, pus, fever, worsening pain, red streaks, or swelling, or if the blister is large, very painful, or you have diabetes or poor circulation.

A simple example: if a new shoe is rubbing the back of your heel, switch shoes, cover the spot with a hydrocolloid bandage, and add moleskin around the blister area to take pressure off while it heals.