Signs That A Blister Needs The Attention Of A Foot Doctor

In most cases, a blister on your foot is just a minor annoyance. It bothers you for a few days, and then it pops. It then starts to heal, and soon enough, you forget it was even there. But sometimes, a blister does not follow this general progression. Instead, it becomes a bigger deal and can benefit from the treatment of a foot doctor. What are some signs your blister needs a doctor's care? Take a look.

It appears yellow or contains some yellow pus.

If your blister contains any yellow or green fluids, or if any of the skin in or around the blister has a yellowed look to it, then you need to see a doctor. These are almost certainly signs of infection. If caught early, infected blisters can usually be treated with topical antibiotics, but the infection can spread deeper into the foot or even into the bloodstream, so you should seek care promptly.

It hasn't healed within a week of popping.

Sometimes a blister feels fine a day or two after popping. Sometimes it takes a little longer than that. But if you are still in a lot of pain a week after the blister pops, this is a sign you should see a doctor. There could be a more sinister reason why your blister is not healing as expected. You may have a circulation disorder that is keeping healing blood from making its way to the damaged tissue. Or you may simply need to wear an orthotic shoe insert for a while in order to take pressure off the blister so it can heal.

It's surrounded by red, inflamed skin.

Look at the skin around the blister. Is it flat and relatively normal-looking, or does it appear read and puffy? Some redness and puffiness after the blister has just formed is normal. But if these issues linger for a few days or develop after the blister previously looked okay, you should see a foot doctor. This could be an early sign of infection.

You have diabetes.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you should see a foot doctor about any foot blister, no matter how small it is. Diabetes can affect your body's ability to heal, causing a minor blister to worsen into a deeper ulcer over a period of days. A foot doctor can properly dress and bandage the wound to prevent these complications.

Blisters are not always a big deal, but sometimes they certainly are. Everyone should know when to call a foot doctor about a blister.