Recurring Blisters on feet

[green4life]

I am 27  year old female and  have had these blisters on feet since i was 16. They start up small then getting bigger as the liquid fills up. At that point the pressure is too much then it bursts.  After it drains and the skin is peeled, you can see a tiny hole that seems to lead into the flesh. The blisters are painless and do not stop me from walking around but the few times that it has gotten infected, it has caused me great pain. I normally have these blisters 2-3 times a year a for a period of about one a half weeks. I have been to the doctors office many times but they are not able to give me a reason for them.

Would anyone know what may be the cause. A food allergic reaction perhaps?

I noticed that someone had asked the same question in September of 1999 on this forum. The way he describes the blisters is exactly how i get them.


Please advise if you have any idea as to what is causing my blisters.

[vinceb9]

i also have allstate,i mean these blisters, i have all the same problems, ie. lack of sleep, i take ambian and tylonol only, i recently finished HEP-C therapy INCIVIC-PEGASUS-COPEGUS which is an anti-viral therapy, during this therapy i had  no blisters, now they are back, it is kinda odd that some people here associate the blisters with flip flops, my blisters reapeared after i bought a new pair???? coincedence? i get them on both feet on the soles and sides of the feet where rubbing does not occur, i used to get tiny ones on my hands that i always thought odd,but never associated them with the ones on my feet which itch and take forever to heal no matter what i try,my shoes are over a year old lol my favs, my feet sweat but my shoes and feet dont stink at all, like when you have athletes foot, so im going to the dr. and demanding a culture to find out what it is for sure, ill get back to you all,

[monkeeman]

Thank you for this post and insight, I am 51 yr old male who has been dealing with this for over 25 yrs. Sometimes starts between baby toe and second toe or 2nd and 3rd toe where skin peels raw and itches or on bottom and slightly up inseam where is gets itchy and bubbles, sometimes bursts and then dries and skin flakes(only left foot and only these areas ever). No prescriptions or creams has ever cured(only slightly relieved itch).At one time it was suggested that maybe an oil (similar to poison oak) was causing it, I throw out every pair of shoes and boots I owned...thought I found problem...almost 2 yrs later started all over again, I came to conclusion no one has any idea what it is???......oh well maybe I will take up smoking marijuana...seems to be curing everything now a days..haha

[Itzmehima]

Have you been dealing with holes made deep into your toes?? Ie., due to wounding cuz bursts or corns leads to since you are a diabetic??
Asking dis cuz my dad is suffering with'em past 10 years indeed he got detected as diabetic by these corn wounds since they were non-healing.

[rdwilli4]

My family physician checked mine out and said they were due to sweat (this problem occurred whether I wore shoes or sandals (and it is too cold where I live at 10,000 feet to go barefoot). My Doc told me to use antiperspirant on my feet. This works great and I never have a problem as long as I use the antiperspirant on my feet every morning.
I started getting the tiny little 'blisters' with clear fluid in them about 16 years ago. The little things were itchy and hurt when walking (felt like pebbles in my shoes) - I could 'pop' them, releasing the fluid, and then it was okay to walk, but it was a continual thing - finally asked my physician about the problem.

[msabid]

Hello
I'm 27 years old. 2 months ago I felt itchy on my left foot, I rubbed it and web like skin appeared between my last and 2nd last toes, it was itchy,  I applied olive oil thinking that it's fungal infection. After some time it recovered and reoccurd when I walked briskly. This time it was like a bump/ blister filled with watery fluid and severe itching too.it popped on its own after shower and walk.fluid came out mixed with blood. And the hole in skin due to rupture/ leakage seem to expose flesh.Mean water was pinkish instead of being clear,  and little painful. Doctor diagnosed it as fungal and gave me antifungal ointment which didn't work, I visited doctor again n this time he diagnosed it as bacterial and this time oinment seem to work and my skin was clear..... but again after I walked for some time it reoccured and doctor gave me another antibacterial oinment..... its like a cycle between... .last toe n then 2nd last toe. Doctor can't give me any oral medication as I'm feeding my 4 months old baby....
Any help...

[Angie_d_o]

Hi folks,  what you got there is called pompholyx,  it is a type of eczema. They are triggered by stress, sweat, high uric acid in the body (can be caused by tomatoes, citric foods, red meats) these little guys are clear little blisters that itch like hell and they usually show up on your feet and hands (but are not limited to those locations) hydrocortisone seems to help me. The bengay company made abengay for eczema that also helped me out greatly.  :) hope I could be of help here

[CLS8888]

Have had these for decades.  I have been diagnosed with dyshidrosis but I am missing many of the key symptoms for diagnosis.  Same thing as many here, on only one foot, on the inner arch, painless, cyclical, no itching with mine.

The itching symptom sounds more like athletes foot and those with an itch might want to try AF remedies (usually antifungals, dry feet, powders, new shoes, etc.).  Itching could be from the flaky skin and exfoliation might help.

This doesn't seem to be bacterial unless there is pus & pain (mine have never had pus).  

The recurrence in the same area sounds more viral, like herpes or shingles, something that it moving along a nerve path, circulatory system, muscle sheath, etc.  

Mine are not a problem other than how they look.  The steroid cream doesn't seem to make much difference, nor have any anti fungals.  I have found that there seems to be a heralding crop—a few to begin a cycle—followed by smaller break-out crops around the heralding spots.  If I leave them alone the second crops emerge and the cycle keeps going for weeks.  I use nail clippers to cut a small slit around the perimeter of the herald blisters then use hydrogen peroxide.  I dip a CLEAN cotton swab (never double dip!) in the peroxide them gently push the saturated tip onto the center of the popped blister.  I hold it there for a few seconds then let the peroxide fizz and repeat.  I do this maybe twice a day for a day or two and the blister dries up and usually no secondary blisters come after this.  

I have noticed that an oubreak is going to last about the same length of time whether I take care of the herald blisters or not.  Herald --> secondary--> heal = ~ 3-6 weeks.  Herald --> H2O2--> a few more herald (not a full crop!)--> H2O2--> heal = ~3-6 weeks.  

I do not take any medication and have not noticed any relation to menstruation, stress, sleep, weather, shoes, etc.  These things just seem to have a life of their own.  

I'd love to know if anyone has ever had a Tzanck smear done on these.  Thank goodness they seem to be harmless!

[PistonPete]

Having read these answers some months ago here's my story and cure. I started getting these small blisters when I was about 30, I'm 58 now. Only ever on my left foot. The blisters would be a little painful if walked on, and I would pop them and drain them and they would dry out and eventually a thick piece of skin would peel off. They'd come and go, no real pattern. Anyway, read this page, went to Boots (UK) and bought some Daktarin anti fungal spray for my shoes, and some Boots anti fungal and antibacterial cream. I sprayed my shoes before and after use and applied cream to both feet, even though it was only my left, once in the morning with clean socks, then before bed. What I noticed after a couple of weeks was that all the thicker skin on my left foot came away in almost sheets, like it had died. I've been free of any trouble for months now. Good luck, but you must be strict with applying the cream regularly.

[sadone8]

I have the same blisters and I pop them when they get big. I only get them on my right foot in the arch area. I have only found one thing that works. I wash  my foot with apple cider vinegar. Only once a day right before I go to bed. It smells kinda strange but it's the only thing I've found that works when I stopped using it the blisters come   back. It's the strangest thing I've ever heard of but what the hell it does the trick. Try it for a week or two you'll be happy you did.

[Mikeyc05]

I too have these blisters.  They always come in clusters of 3 and don't get very big.  I pop them and a few days later the skin around them dries and can be peeled off.  They are usually located on the inside of my left foot in the arch right where the skin changes from side of foot, thinner skin to bottom of foot, thicker skin.  I didn't start getting them till I was about 26 or 27 years old. I am now 41 and get these little rascals 2-3 times a year.  I was wondering if anybody else ever took Accutane.  I can see it being a fungus like athletes foot but I just wonder if there could be something else beside a type of athletes foot.

[Lanelle81]

Most likely caused by Candida overgrowth, which also can cause abdominal pain. Candida lives on sugar. It's interesting to learn about if you have the time.

[Lanelle81]

I found two things I think might help. The name / names of the problem. Pompholyx Eczema and Dyshidrotic Eczema. They both look just like what I have. I didn't study long enough to figure out just what the differences were. But a Googled, "Dyshidrotic Cure" and came up with a bunch of great info from people who have had it and cured it. I think knowing what it is is half the battle. So very thankful for the internet!

[Lanelle81]

HAHA "If modern medicine worked, we wouldn't need holistic medication"

[Lanelle81]

I feel your pain! I am just now getting desperate enough to research what's causing this. I am still researching but I know that most likely I'm going  to have to do a major diet change. I really think everyones problems are stemming from unhealthy malfunctioning bodies. The only real cure is to get healthier and help your body heal. I'm specifically looking into gut healing and liver. I hope you get relief fast! Your must be worse than mine. I'm so sorry!

[Lanelle81]

I feel your pain! I am just now getting desperate enough to research what's causing this. I am still researching but I know that most likely I'm going  to have to do a major diet change. I really think everyones problems are stemming from unhealthy malfunctioning bodies. The only real cure is to get healthier and help your body heal. I'm specifically looking into gut healing and liver. I hope you get relief fast! Your must be worse than mine. I'm so sorry!

[12RITA]

I have been using Aveeno lotion on my feet. It worked no more bumps!

[Vacs4U]

I have what most of your are describing and have had it for many years.  The first time I had an "outbreak"  my doctor took a sample of the fluid and tested it.   It was not sweat as some of you said it might be, instead the lab said it was Serum.  Because of this lab result and the symptoms that have been described many times in this discussion it was diagnosed as Dyshidrosis.

Search for the term Dyshidrosis and you will find the clinical description and that there is no known cause.  With out a known cause there cannot be cure and one treatment will work for some and not other probably because the causation varies so people will have to find what works for them to resolve the symptoms.  Personally I use peroxide or rubbing alcohol twice a day on the affected area, morning and night, to prevent infection especially after the blisters open or leak fluid. When some blisters do open up they begin to itch so I use an over the counter Hydrocortisone cream after cleaning the area.

If you can determine your personal trigger try removing that trigger from your environment/diet.  Mine seems to heat related as my outbreaks mostly occur in the hotter months of the year I try to wear that have good ventilation once temperatures get above 80 degrees.  For me keep my feet cool seems to have cut down on the number of out breaks I have.

Finally for those of us that share our homes with others you will be happy to know it is not contagious.  Most of you have probably figured this out by now since it only happens on one foot and if it was contagious like foot fungus you would have the problem on both feet.

Hope this helps and gets you back on your feet soon.


"If holistic medicine worked we wouldn't need modern medicine."

[candy901870]

CORRECTION - the cream I mentioned is not a steroid, it's an anti-fungal, although the condition isn't due to a fungal problem - as I was tested and nothing was detected.  However it does work.  Maybe one day they will discover what causes this problem.

[candy901870]

I have had this problem, it began 10 years ago I suffered through exactly what you describe for a good year and then my Dr prescribed Mentax cream (steroid) and it cleared up in about a month and only came back every couple of years for a brief  time (and wasn't nearly as horrible)  and went away again on its own.  Usually it would occur in the summer when I wear flip flops or sweat a lot or anything that caused my feet to get dirty (it began on both feet before the cream, but has only been my left foot now when it occurs). My Dr told me it wasn't fungal but a skin sensitivity. I haven't used any cream in 7 years simply because it's never bad enough for that since the first treatment.

[QueenMorticia]

Mine activates if my right foot touches the grond or I get my sock soiled. Right foot. Itches like demons n hurts like hell the deeper they are I.e. heel offoot. Im in hell. I need help. Nothing but prednisone helps a little and aloe vera gel 100% clear. It is NOT athletes foot.. a food allergy an ph imbalance  or some aura. Sleep deprivation and stress make ANY health issue worae. Somebody help. Im ready to cut my foot off. Ive done EVERYTHING else it seems.

[Mister_C]

My blisters happen when having lots of sugar, especially Pepsi. not much with Coke but to me, Pepsi is the culprit. Used to itch like crazy before (before i realised what the cause was) but now i cut down when it occurs.
When i does occur, i try to drink lots of water as i feel its better to "clean' up the sugar *** I am not a diabetic and really dont want to be.

[bugoff]

I have similar problems and a host of others related to dermatology and I found I have a under lying issue of GOUT. I know it is mainly known for causing foot pain, which I also had. So I bought a uric acid blood tester for $80.00(Shop by how much test strips cost not how much meter costs, as test strips are pricey $30.00 for 25 test strips. And you are going to do a lot of testing if you want to get well.). I test the foods that spike uric acid in my blood and sure enough I have been managing my levels and symptoms' are slowly going away. There are some foods that lower uric acid like watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, and red apples. But really you have test them on you and make a list. the internet has list of foods of to eat and don't eat, but as I mentioned before the only way of knowing is by testing. the way I test a food is I eat a single whole food( natural food, not processed as it contains too much stuff to properly test) in the morning, since I am fasted (Breakfast= meaning breaking your fast) then I test my blood to see how high it spikes or lowers my uric acid levels. So list established I eat a combination of foods that raise my levels with foods that lower my levels to maintain a healthy level. The meter looks and test identical to a glucose meter and as in my meter it can also test for glucose using a separate glucose strips. I am sure there are blood tests that test for gout, but I don't have insurance so went on own to find my issue.

[timothysloan]

This is an old thread, but I wanted to post my findings. I am a 37 year old male who had these sores for fifteen years. Medical testing found nothing. No herpes, no athletes foot, etc. I also got mouth sores (ulcers) frequently. Completely unconnected, i started trying to lose weight. I cut out processed sugars and acidic sugar drinks (soda, sweet ice tea, lemonade, etc). Sores in both locations went away. I didnt notice at first until i fell off the wagon so to speak and had candy bars and a few cans of soda. I woke up the next day with the foot sores again. So i started experimenting with having sugar in my diet and fasting from it. Soda and processed refined sugars bring these on everytime. And if i bite my lip while on sugar, the mouth ulcers return. My theory? Sugar or acid in carbonated drinks makes the body acidic and it breaks out. Cant tell you why on the feet, but if this is happening to you, first step is cut out ALL sugary drinks, ALL carbonated drinks, ALL sugary junk food. It  has worked for me. Recurrent abdominal pain (that couldnt be diagnosed by specialists) also stopped.

[1960Summer]

Dr. Robson,
I have experienced spontaneous eruption of blisters on my toes on either foot for about the past 8 years. I am 53 years old. I tend to wear sandals or flip flops all summer long unless I'm exercising. The blisters initially are filled with a clear fluid and as the pressure builds, they become painful. There is absolutely no itching. That's when I usually pierce them with a clean needle to release the pressure. Clear fluid continues to weep over several days. Then, it transitions to a serosanguinous/bloody drainage. At this point, the underlying skin becomes bright red and extremely tender. These blisters form on the tops of my toes and are often directly adjacent to the nail but do not involve the nail in any way. It takes weeks for them to heal. Healing involves the formation of something like a scab which. ones off eventually leaving behind a very dark red area of skin who h then takes several more weeks to finally return to normal. I've been seen by several family physicians in my PCP practice. They're stymied. I saw my dermatologist several years ago. He prescribed a strong steroid cream to be used for only one week in an attempt to help "dry" them up. I honestly could not discern if it made a significant difference. He mentioned that it might be an autoimmune issue who h would require a biopsy to diagnose. Unfortunately, he returned to his native country shortly after my visit. Each summer I try to determine the causative agent. I used to think it was exposure to a rust colored presumably fungus that appears on our grass when it is very dry. I've been hypervigilant this summer with cleaning my flip flops and toes after walking in the yard. I try to limit that as much as possible. I've had three outbreaks this summer. Interestingly, each was associated with water or dampness. The first time occurred after I power washed our pool area pavers.  I was wearing socks n flip flops knowing my feet would get soaked. The second time was after I power washed the back of our house. I wore rubber gardening shoes thinking that would protect me, but it didn't. More recently I was at the beach and was digging my toes down far enough to encounter damp sand never thinking this would be an issue. Now I have terrible large blisters on the first three toes of my right foot and two small blisters on the very tips of  my 4th and 5th toes. My family do for has prescribed Mycolog ointment. My toes almost look necrotic. I could not get an appointment even food this at my local dermatology office until mid-September. I'M documenting my toes with pictures until then.  I was a registered nurse for 20 years in acute care but that really hasnt helped meto figure this out. I do have other autoimmune issues - fibromyalgia and Meniere's Disease. This happens every summer. Its painful, embarrassing, and limits my ability to exercise by not being able to tolerate wearing sneakers. I would truly appreciate any incite you would be willing to provide. My username for this community is 1960Summer.

[Dr_Robson]

NO NEED TO PANIC, this is "Vesicular Athlete's Foot" a quite common fungal infection and in most cases easily treatable without the need to visit a doctor.
Treatment - Keep feet clean and dry and treat 2 or 3 times a day with a good Athlete's Foot powder. If you have suffered with this before it will probably return so as a precautionary measure regularly treat shoes and trainers with anti fungal powder.

[don8life]

Wow....I'm amazed so many have similar problems!  I have had these strange blisters on my left foot (under the arch - toward the inside of my foot, never the outer side), I've had them for probably 15 years.  They come and go with no apparent pattern.  Happens in the summer, winter, shoes and socks, sandals, different soap, etc.  They itch like crazy!!!!!!  They don't burst on their own though.  If I can refrain from scratching them so hard that I scratch them open, they just gradually fade away.  It's always in the same spot, never had happened on any other part of my body or to anyone else in my family!  When I've been in to the doctor, it's always after they are mostly healed up or dried out and the doctor just looks at me weird (never been to a dermatologist).  It can be one outbreak and then be nothing for months, or it could be two in a row....or nothing for over a year!  I am now on meds that lower my immune system, but this has been happening for MANY MANY years before I started the medications.