Banishing Blisters

From Runner’s World online…

Banishing Blisters

Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes and foot abnormalities.

By Marlene Cimons

Published 07/12/2007

One podiatrist I know has a surefire way to prevent blisters during marathons: stop half-way, take a shower, dry your feet and change your socks.

Surefire, maybe. Practical, no. Fortunately, many other doctors and runners have developed several inexpensive, easy ways to prevent these nasty beasts. None involve a midrace shower. And all will help ensure blisters never ruin another race or training run.

Annoying and painful, blisters are caused by friction, usually your shoes or socks rubbing against your skin. Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes and foot abnormalities, such as bunions, heel spurs and hammertoes. Heat and moisture intensify friction by making your feet swell. That explains why many runners only suffer blisters during races, especially marathons. You're perspiring more, running faster and longer, sloshing through water stations and, if it's warm, pouring water over your head.

The body responds to the friction by producing fluid, which builds up beneath the part of the skin being rubbed, causing pressure and pain. A blood blister occurs when the friction ruptures tiny blood vessels.

While most blisters don't pose a serious health risk, they should be treated with respect.

"A painful blister can sideline a runner," says Letha Griffin, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta, Ga., who is the sports physician for Georgia State University. But more importantly, "a blister also can get infected. And those infections can put you in the hospital," she adds. "A lot of people will pop a blister with a dirty needle, and the area will get infected. Then, all of a sudden, you've got a severe problem."

Read on here.