Newswise — Blisters are the bane of many a backcountry traveler, says Dr. Fred Trayers. Trayers is the author of new article that explains the nature of blisters and ways to prevent them. The article is published in the latest issue of Wilderness Medicine magazine.
The cause of a blister could be a number of factors. Excess weight, wetness, dryness, and many other variables can result in the friction between two surfaces. Eventually the heat from the friction causes a separation of skin layers that allows for fluid to enter—in short, a blister is born.
Like other medical problems encountered in the wilderness, prevention is key. Trayers provides a few strategies to keep blisters at bay. They are:
"¢ Reduce the carried load. This could mean taking a few pounds out of one's pack, or, the hard way of actually losing human weight."¢ Use padded insoles or arch supports. This helps to evenly distribute pressure over the plantar surface of the foot."¢ Find a proper fit. Footwear shouldn't be too tight or too loose. Allow for a "break-in" period."¢ Place a barrier between the footwear and the potential point of blister formation. Using a barrier such as adhesive bandages or even Duct Tape lets the friction fall between the barrier and the footwear—not your skin."¢ Wear two socks. A smooth, thin, snug-fitting synthetic sock worn against the skin will tend to move with the foot, while a thick, woven sock will tend to move with the footwear. As a result, friction occurs between the two layers of socks."¢ Try lubricants and antiperspirants. For short hikes, petroleum jelly and drying powders can help. For longer hikes, antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate have a proven effect by reducing the amount of perspiration that can form on the skin surface.
If a blister manages to form and considerable fluid has accumulated, it should be drained, and then covered with a protective dressing.
"Proper care of friction blisters deserves careful attention, since no other minor ailment has such a great potential to negatively impact the enjoyment of adventure sports in the outdoors," Trayers said.
In any case, an irritating blister won't last forever. Healing and recovery occurs in 48 hours.
To read the entire study, click here: http://www.allenpress.com/pdf/WMMM23.3pgs10-11.pdf
Wilderness Medicine is a peer-reviewed quarterly medical magazine published by the Wilderness Medical Society. For more information, visit http://www.wms.org.
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