Dr Phil Kieran: My gym-going teenager has blisters on his feet
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Blisters, corns, and calluses are skin responses to friction or pressure. Most, if not all, of us will experience these at some point in our lives unless we are inactive, so it's a good idea to know what they are, how to prevent them, and what to do if you do have them.
When any part of your body comes under stress, it will try to adapt to manage it. So, for example, when we lift weights in this gym, the muscles get bigger and more capable. The skin adapts by becoming thicker in areas of higher load. People who work with their hands often have hard calluses on their palms, which, in mild cases, can protect the skin from getting damaged and make it more resilient. In severe cases, they can form a hard (usually painful) core, known as a corn.
When the skin becomes wetter and softens, the callus can become the equivalent of a hard lump rubbing and pulling on the deeper layers of skin. So when your son's feet sweat and move around, the friction can cause the top layers of skin to separate from the underneath layers. This gap fills with liquid and causes a blister to form. If possible, we recommend against popping blisters.
To treat the hardened skin, soak it in warm water and gently use a pumice stone to remove the hardened layers. Be careful not to be too enthusiastic with the stone, as you don’t want to remove normal skin underneath the callus. Foot and hand creams that contain urea can also help soften the skin, which will help it remain flexible.
More important, though, is to remove the trauma causing the issue in the first place. Your son’s feet are likely experiencing a lot of friction due to his gym shoes. Getting shoes that correctly fit is a must for most forms of exercise.
Wearing socks that can wick the moisture away from his skin will help keep blisters at bay. However, he should consider wearing double-layered socks if he continues to develop them. With these socks, one layer of material stays still against the skin, and the other layer against the shoe. This means the sock material rubs against itself rather than the skin being pushed and pulled.
If any of the blisters become infected, he will need to seek medical treatment.
: This advice is for those who have diabetes or severe circulatory or sensation issues in the feet. If you fall into these categories, you should follow special guidelines on how to look after the skin on your feet specific to your diagnosis.
- If you have a question for Dr Phil Kieran, please send it to parenting@examiner.ie