Blisters
Blisters are a pocket delamination of your skin layers due to friction (like old Gore-Tex). If the delamination occurs in the top layers of skin, you will get a "dry" blister. If it occurs in deeper layers plasma will seep into the pocket and you will have a "wet" blister. Only in rare cases will blisters actually become bloody. A blood filled blister indicates deeper tissue damage and is prone to infection - very nasty - avoid them at all cost. Dry blisters heal faster than wet blisters. Bloody blisters need to be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent infection.
Initially, all blisters are treated in the same manner and here is what to do if you get a blister.
If possible, stop skiing, go home, wear soft non-irritating slippers and wait for the blister to be re-absorbed and become a dry blister. Once dry, the blister will open on its own and you can then safely remove the dead skin flap with a pair of small scissors. Unfortunately, most people want to (or must) continue skiing.
If you must continue to travel, stop, wash your foot, open the blister, and remove the skin flap (as above). This prevents the blister from delaminating further. Avoid cutting past the edges of the flap and drawing blood. If possible, spend the night allowing the blister to dry and toughen. In the morning or when your foot is completely dry, paint around the blister with tincture of Benzoin. Put a wee bit of a petroleum-based antibiotic (Neosporin, Triple Antibiotic Ointment) over the open area. Place a small piece of gauze over the blister and cover the entire area completely with cloth tape. Make sure that the tape does NOT extend past the painted area.
Now put your foot back into your boot and move around. If the blistered area is painful, add a foam or moleskin "donut" on top of the tape to help relieve the pressure (and pain). Remove the "bandage" at night to allow drying. This technique is very effective with small blisters (no larger than a quarter or loonie). With continued care and a bit of luck you should be able to finish your ski trip without further problems.
Things You Could Do But Should Not
Leaving the blister intact and putting a foam or moleskin "donut" around it often relieves some pressure but rarely all of it. More often, your skin continues to delaminate, the blister grows, pops on its own, and you have a bigger mess. Yuck. -Lancing the blister with a sterile needle will drain the fluid out but with time the blister refills, gets larger, and breaks on its own - back to the bigger mess described above. -Continuing to ski on a foot with a big open blister causes further damage, bleeding, and leads to infection. REMEMBER that hot spots and blisters are indicators that your sock and boot combination is NOT WORKING. Make adjustments accordingly. Good luck!
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