Top tips to treat blisters when hiking

Stop as soon as you can feel pain!

Early detection is key and it’s best to stop as soon as you can feel the slightest hotspot. The sooner it’s addressed, the better, even though when you are with a walking group it’s not always convenient to do so as it’s an unplanned stop.

Cleanliness is key

Remove your shoe and sock to find the source of the blister and gently wipe both your hands and the sore area clean with an antibacterial wipe. It’s most important to keep out dirt and bacteria.

Don’t pop it

Don’t be tempted to pop a blister. It’s not usually necessary (unless the blister is on the stressed part of the foot, such as the heel or ball of the foot) and the damaged, overlying skin encourages a cushion of fluid to fill the area underneath it which protects the more delicate skin. Keeping the blister intact also prevents it from infection.

Use the right type of dressing

Scholl blister plasters provide a hydrocolloid dressing containing a gel forming agent to protect the healing area from further friction. They are breathable, so allow air to get to the blister to aid recovery. They are also waterproof and prevent any unwanted sweat or water from getting into the wound.

Dress your blister

To dress it, you need to create a protective and durable layer between the foot and your shoe. The easiest way is to cover it with a proper blister plaster, such as the Scholl blister plaster, which is easy to apply and, so long as the affected area is clean and dry, can be left on for up to a week while it heals. Make sure the adhesive portion of the plaster is outside the blister itself.

Infection

As your blister heals, keep a watch out for redness or swelling. This may mean it has become infected and it should be seen by a doctor.

The healing process

Recovery from a blister may take one to two weeks to heal. With the right covering, it should be possible to maintain hiking activities though inevitably the cause of the injury should be eliminated.

First aid kit

So don’t get caught out! A blister plaster pack is an essential for your hiking first aid kit. Be prepared – even the most experienced walkers have had occasions when they have developed a blister and know how painful each step can be.

Ask your friends if anyone has ever had a wart or verruca before, and maybe only a few will confess. But despite the embarrassment they bring, most of us will have one at some point during our lives^* . They may be ugly and sometimes painful, but thankfully they are harmless. Even so, when you get one, you’ll probably be keen to see the back of it.

What are warts and verrucae? 

Warts are small, rough lumps or growths in the skin – they range from the size of a pinprick to 1cm in diameter. Verrucae are warts on the soles of the feet, and are often characterised by tiny dots in the centre. They tend to be quite flat in appearance as they get trodden in and can form in clusters.

What are the symptoms of warts and verrucae?

Although unsightly, warts and verrucae are generally harmless and don’t come with many symptoms. They may feel uncomfortable or painful when walking.

What causes warts and verrucae?

They are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), and warts and verrucae generally go away by themselves – but it may take months or even years. Warts and verrucae are contagious and can spread from person to person by direct skin contact. If your skin is already damaged, wet or soft and comes into contact with damp surfaces like swimming pool changing rooms, you are at more risk of being infected. You can also spread the virus to other areas of the body. It can be difficult to know how exactly how the infection occurred due to a long incubation time.

Top tips for avoiding and managing warts and verrucae?

It’s hard to completely avoid coming into contact with HPV but you can take the following precautions to help protect against warts and verrucae:

• Don’t touch other people’s warts or verrucae.
• Don’t share towels, socks or shoes with others.
• Wear flip flops around the pool or communal changing areas.
• If you have a wart or verruca, cover it with a waterproof plaster when swimming.
• Don’t touch, scratch or pick your wart or verruca as it’s more likely to spread.
• If you do or need to touch your wart or verruca, wash your hands after.
• Change your socks daily if you have a verruca.

* Figures from Patient.info Warts and Verrucas. Accessed: July 2018.

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