How to Treat and Prevent Blisters

By Kristann Heinz,
M.D., RKC

I, like many of you, pride myself on my strong hands. Mine are  nicely calloused from hours of farm chores and, of course, from my KB  training. But, alas, even the most conscientious KB athlete faces a  blister from time to time.

What is a blister?  A blister is a bubble under the skin that  can be filled with a clear liquid, pus or blood. Friction blisters can  form when the skin is repeatedly rubbed in one spot. We see this with  improperly fitting shoes or a KB rubbing on the palm of our hand. A  blood blister is seen when the skin has been pinched or undergone a  traumatic insult such as catching it between two KBs. The area around  the blister may be red and tender. In general, with proper care a  blister should heal within 3 to 5 days.

Step-by-Step Blister Care

1. When you first detect a blister, stop your activity. Do not break  or "pop" the blister. The skin that covers the blister helps to protect  it from infection.
2. Gently wash with soap or clean with Betadine if you are not  near a sink. If the blister is broken make sure to wash the area as  above. If the blister came from KB training, it is important to clean  the blister of any paint or medal filings that may have imbedded  themselves in the blister area.
3. Next, apply antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin or Bacitracin to the area.
4. You can protect your blister by making a blister doughnut. Cut  some moleskin to the appropriate size for the blister area. [You can  buy moleskin at a drugstore.] Then cut out a circle from the center of  the moleskin that is slightly larger than the blister area. Place the  ring or doughnut around the blister.
5. Cover the blister area with gauze and secure with  hypoallergenic tape. This should reduce the friction that is applied to  the area. Change the blister dressing daily.
6. Monitor healing to ensure recovery. If you find the blister  area is increasingly red, swollen and painful or you notice pus, your  blister may be infected. You may also have a fever. Your blister needs  to be looked at by medical professional and they may need to give you  antibiotics for a skin infection or cellulitis.

Calluses are the build-up of hard skin caused by the uneven  distribution of weight. I often get calluses at the base of my index,  middle and ring finger on my palm from KB training. If calluses are not  properly cared for, they to can be torn off and leave one with an open  sore like a broken blister. If you have a torn calluses follow the care  instructions for a broken blister. To prevent torn calluses, do not let  the calluses get too big. After a shower or bath, carefully use a pumice  stone or emery board to gently remove excess build-up of tissue.

Blister Prevention is the Best Prescription

1. If you know you have a tendency to get blisters in a certain spot,  cover it with hypoallergenic medical tape prior to the activity. I have  known folks in my classes, to use duct tape over the area. But please be  careful and check to see if you have an allergy to the adhesive of duct  tape before you use it, the last thing you need is an allergic reaction  to the tape on your hands.
2. You can also wear cotton fingerless gloves on your hands to  prevent blister formation. We buy cotton gloves from the hardware store  and cut off the fingers.
3. Assess your KB handle. John, my blacksmithing husband, also an  RKC, files down the handles of our KB to help prevent blisters (see box  on next page for instructions).
4. Keep a first aid kit handy with the appropriate medical  supplies to care for a blister. I suggest Betadine or hydrogen peroxide,  moleskin, antibiotic ointment, gauze, hypoallergenic medical tape and  scissors.