The 10 Best Blister Treatments
This wiki has been updated 21 times since it was first published in June of 2018. Nothing can ruin a good vacation or put a kink in your day quite like a painful blister. Ease your discomfort and walk freely again with one of the treatments from this list, all of which either help prevent blisters or soothe them, with some options offering protection from chafing, friction, and other common ailments that can plahgue those who wear ill-fitting shoes or run long distances. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Spenco Protection
2. BSN Medical Leukotape
3. Medique Triple
Editor's Notes
June 04, 2020:
There are two main ways to deal with blisters, and that's to either prevent them entirely or protect them once they've formed so they can heal quickly. We've included options for both methods on this list, with bandages, padding, tape, balms, and antiseptic creams. Blisters are the product of unchecked friction, whether on your hands, feet, or elsewhere, and all of our selections can be put to use all over the body.
If you're an avid athlete or adventurer, then ideally you'll have both preventative measures and treatments on hand. Before going on long runs or participating in intense sports, consider hardwearing options like Engo Oval Patches or BSN Medical Leukotape to barricade hot spots from rubbing against your shoes or gloves. If you've already sustained a blister and need to get rid of it ASAP so as not to interrupt your routine, the newly-added Brave Soldier Antiseptic is a good, all-natural choice to speed up the healing process. There's also Medique Triple, which contains dozens of single-use packets ideal for throwing in a backpack or keeping handy in a first-aid kit.
Engo Oval Patches are also a solid choice for breaking in new dress shoes or heels, and Body Glide Balm is useful if you'll be donning sandals and need to protect precision areas. If blisters, irritation, and burns are something you deal with frequently, Spenco Protection are hard to beat for relief and protection. Each piece is 80% purified water, so they're extremely soothing and come off without tugging at your skin. They're hypoallergenic, latex-free, and non-medicated.
We brought on the Spenco 2nd Skin Kit to replace the Spenco Sports Knit, which lacks the variety the new addition has. Be aware that these kits are really only good for treating a few blisters or people at a time, so if you deal with chronic skin issues, they're not the best long term solution.
Special Honors
Crary Shoes Custom Molded Often, blisters are the result of wearing ill-fitting shoes for extended periods. Crary Shoes is a company hailing from Portland, Oregon that specializes in tailor-made footwear for clients with diabetes, wide feet, injuries, and much more. They follow a meticulous process that includes making a cast of your foot to begin designing a perfectly-fitted shoe. The result is a handmade pair that's crafted to last. Available in the size, style, and color of your choice, with endless modifications. craryshoes.com
4. Engo Oval Patches
5. Brave Soldier Antiseptic
6. Dr. Scholl's Moleskin
7. Body Glide Balm
8. Spenco 2nd Skin Kit
9. Compeed AW17 Plasters
10. Adventure Medical Kits GlacierGel
Born in Arizona, Gia is a writer and autodidact who fled the heat of the desert for California, where she enjoys drinking beer, overanalyzing the minutiae of life, and channeling Rick Steves. After arriving in Los Angeles a decade ago, she quickly nabbed a copywriting job at a major clothing company and derived years of editing and proofreading experience from her tenure there, all while sharpening her skills further with myriad freelance projects. In her spare time, she teaches herself French and Italian, has earned an ESL teaching certificate, traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and unashamedly devours television shows and books. The result of these pursuits is expertise in fashion, travel, beauty, literature, textbooks, and pop culture, in addition to whatever obsession consumes her next.