What to Do About Blisters From Athlete’s Foot (2024)

FAQs

What to Do About Blisters From Athlete’s Foot? ›

The bottom line. Athlete's foot is a common skin condition, but not all cases result in blisters. You should begin antifungal treatments right away if you suspect athlete's foot. See your doctor if your blisters cause discomfort or pain that interferes with your lifestyle.

Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription antifungal creams, ointments, gels, sprays or powders effectively treat athlete's foot. These products contain clotrimazole, miconazole, tolnaftate or terbinafine. Some prescription antifungal medications for athlete's foot are pills.

After washing and drying your feet, apply an antifungal product. The antifungal terbinafine (Lamisil AT) has been shown to be very effective. Another option is clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF). You may need to experiment to find the product and formulation — ointment, gel, cream, lotion, powder or spray — that work for you.

Apply an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to the blister and cover it with a nonstick bandage or gauze pad. After several days, cut away the dead skin. Use tweezers and scissors that you sterilize with an antiseptic wipe or rubbing alcohol. Apply more ointment and a bandage.

Once you get a blister, action should be taken immediately. After gently and carefully cleaning the area, apply a waterproof blister plaster to cushion the blister and protect it from harmful bacteria and dirt. Try to avoid wearing anything that puts pressure or friction on the wound.

Most mild cases of athlete's foot clear up within 2 weeks. But treatment can go for several weeks or longer if the infection is more serious or affects the toenails.

Athlete's foot can also affect your soles or sides of your feet. It sometimes causes fluid-filled blisters. If it's not treated, the infection can spread to your toenails and cause a fungal nail infection.

Home remedies like tea tree oil and hydrogen peroxide can ease symptoms, but they won't cure athlete's foot on their own. If your infection hasn't gone away after 3 to 4 weeks, see your healthcare provider. You may need prescription-strength treatment to cure your athlete's foot.

You may notice the blisters caused by athlete's foot are elevated from your skin and filled with liquid. Usually the liquid inside the blisters isn't problematic, especially if it's clear. You may have a secondary infection if the blisters are filled with pus.

You should treat athlete's foot as soon as you notice even minor symptoms. It's fine to try over-the-counter products such as the antifungal terbinafine cream (Lamisil) or antifungal powder for your socks and shoes. You may have a home remedy you like to use, such as vinegar-water soaks to dry out your feet.

What dries out blisters the fastest? ›

Blisters can heal on their own, but natural products can help speed up the healing process. These include aloe vera, coconut oil, and lemon balm. Blisters are fluid-filled pockets that form on the skin in response to friction, heat, or infections.

You may choose to cover small blisters with a plaster. Larger blisters can be covered with a gauze pad or dressing that can be taped in place. Painful blisters, or those in positions where they're likely to burst, such as on the sole of your foot, can be covered with a soft dressing to cushion and protect them.

Use a Band-Aid: Cover your blister to reduce and protect the irritation and contact. You can even add a small cotton ball between the sticky parts of the Band-Aid for extra cushion. Apply aloe vera gel to help reduce redness and swelling. Use caster oil: Apply it with a cotton ball or pad to help heal the blister.

Cover it up.

Cover your blister with a loosely wrapped bandage. You can use a regular adhesive bandage or some gauze secured with tape. Your blister needs air to help it dry out, so keep the middle of the bandage slightly raised for airflow.

For a Blister That Has Not Popped

Try not to pop or drain it. Leave it uncovered or cover loosely with a bandage. Try not to put pressure on the area. If the blister is in a pressure area such as the bottom of the foot, put a donut-shaped moleskin on it.

Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on the blister. They can slow healing. You may cover the blister with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a non-stick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.

In severe cases, athlete's foot can cause thick, dry, scaly skin resembling a moccasin shape on the bottom of the foot or numerous small, red, itchy blisters on the sole of the foot.

Common signs and symptoms are: Scaly, peeling or cracked skin between the toes. Itchiness, especially right after taking off shoes and socks. Inflamed skin that might appear reddish, purplish or grayish, depending on your skin color.

Moccasin athlete's foot is sometimes mistaken for other conditions such as eczema. A rare kind of athlete's foot causes an acute inflammation associated with skin redness, blisters, pus-filled bumps and open sores.

And Vicks VapoRub contains eucalyptus oil and menthol, which can fight fungi. One study showed Vicks reduced athlete's foot symptoms in more than half of people who applied it. To prevent the infection, keep feet dry, especially between your toes. Change your socks often, sometimes twice a day.