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This is I've practiced taping my own blisters, and worked the Umstead 100 aid station, taping technique many runners feet. ==General Principles==* Clean the area around the blister. If lubricant has been used, this can be tricky to remove completely. Using alcohol can help; I generally use'd recommend using plenty of rubbing alcohol as it's cheap and a good solvent. For minor issues* Be aware of the passage of time during a race, just Micropore works wellas it's possible to burn through enough time that meeting the cut offs becomes difficult. * Only burst blisters if they are likely to spread.* Adhesive promoter is usually a good idea.* Avoid duct tape – it's macho, but for a something more delicate, the combination poor solution.* Applying a small amount of Kinesioanti-Tex biotic ointment onto the blister itself can help prevent it getting stuck to the tape and Micropore is betterprovides a small measure of protection from infection if the blister bursts naturally.* Dust with powder as a final step so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks. <gallery widths=300px heights=200px captionPartially blistered toe="Taping =This is quite a common area to blister">.File:* [[Blister - Clean.jpgPrevention#Blisters on the tips of the toes|Clean Prevention tips]] * Try to clean the blister area with an alcohol wipeas well as possible. This * A blister on the toes will sometimes require popping if the athlete is important so to continue running. * Cutting open the skin toe box may help, but has some risk if this is clean for done in the adhesive to stickmiddle of a race. * Mastisol is recommended, but tincture of benzoin will work.File:Blister - Adhesive Promoter* Micropore or Leukotape are the best tape choices.jpg|* Apply an the adhesive promoter to the skin of the toe that is unblistered. Applying to the toe nail may be necessary if there is little unblistered skin left, but this will make the tape hard to remove. * Wrap the toe in tape; don'''around''' t make the tape too tight as this could cause constriction. If the blisteris not burst, care must be taken that the tape does not on force the blister itselfto spread further. * Gently smooth the tape over the end of the toe, pinching into a few large folds. You can even put * Cut the folds away, leaving a small amount smooth covering.* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.* If Injinji socks are not used, then the tape may rub on the next toe. It may be possible to cover part of the next toe with tape to prevent this, rather than taping every toe.  ==Completely blistered toe==A completely blistered toe is unusual, but is especially problematic as there is no skin left to attach the tape to. Instead, tags of lubricant tape must be used to attach the tape to the foot. * [[Blister Prevention#Blisters on the tips of the toes|Prevention tips]] * Try to clean the area as well as possible. * A complete blistering of a toe will often require popping if the athlete is to continue running. * Cutting open the toe box may help, but has some risk if this is done in the middle of a race. * Mastisol is necessary; only use tincture of benzoin if Mastisol is not available.* Micropore or Leukotape are the best tape choices. * Wrap the toe in tape; don't make the tape too tight as this could cause constriction. If the blister is not burst, care must be taken that the tape does not force the blister to spread further. * Gently smooth the tape over the end of the toe, pinching into a few large folds.* Cut the folds away, leaving a smooth covering.* Apply the adhesive promoter to the skin of the foot near the toe and to the tape at the top and bottom of the toe. * Apply tape 'bridges' between the tape over the toe and the foot itself . * Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.* If Injinji socks are not used, then the tape may rub on the next toe. It may be possible to cover part of the next toe with tape doesn't stick to prevent this, rather than taping every toe.  ==Side of the big toe==This is basically the same as the partially blistered toe, but there is a stronger case for cutting open the toe box of the shoe near the blister.  ==Sides of heel ==* [[Blister Prevention#Blisters on the back or sides of the heel|Prevention tips]]* A blisteron the side of the foot will sometimes require popping if the athlete is to continue running. If the blister is small and just starting to form, it may be okay to leave it depending on the conditions and the length of the race remaining. * Small blisters could be left intact, but larger blisters will require popping if the athlete is to continue running. * Do you get have lots of time? Then use the luxury taping approach, otherwise use the rapid approach.  ===Rapid===* Clean the area thoroughly. * Tincture of benzoin is recommended, but use Mastisol if the conditions are wet.* Micropore or Leukotape are the best tape choices. * Apply the adhesive promoter on to the skin around the blister, far enough around to ensure it goes beyond the taping. * Place a piece of Micropore or Leukotape over the blister, removing providing at least 0.5 inch/1cm beyond the edge of the blister. * Gently smooth the tape ; if there are any creases, pinch them into a few large folds and cut the folds away. * Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.  ===Luxury ===* Clean the area thoroughly. * Tincture of benzoin is likely required, but use Mastisol if the conditions are wet.* Use Kinesio-Tex with Micropore. * Apply the adhesive promoter to tear the skin around the blister, far enough around to ensure it goes beyond the taping. File:Blister * Place a piece of Kinesio- Tex over the blister, providing at least 0.5 inch/1cm beyond the edge of the blister. * Gently smooth the tape; if there are any creases, pinch them into a few large folds and cut the folds away. * Apply Tapemore adhesive promoter to the skin around the Kinesio-Tex tape and to the edges of the tape itself, far enough around to ensure it goes another 0.jpg|Cut 5 inch/1cm beyond the Kinesio-Tex taping. * Apply strips of Micropore around the edges of the Kinesio-Text tape a little larger than .* Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the blistersocks. Bigger gives more sticking area ==Side of ball==The side of the ball of the foot can be treated much like the sides of heel, which but there is goodmore movement due to the bending of the foot. Small blisters can use the rapid approach, but for larger areas, the flexibility of the Kinesio-Tex tape may justify the extra coverage can cause that skin effort. Prevention tips - [[Blister Prevention#Blisters on the sides of the forefoot]]. ==Under the ball ==This is one of the nastiest places to become saturated with sweatget a blister, so as it is the primary part of the foot used for running. * [[Blister Prevention#Blisters under the ball of the foot|Prevention tips]]* Clean the area thoroughly. * Popping the blister is normally required if it's a compromisehas not naturally popped under the pressure of running. Push down * Tincture of benzoin is recommended, and Mastisol is generally not required as there is normally plenty of skin on the sides and top of the foot to adhere to. * The best tape around is Leukotape, as you want to stabilize the damaged skin and limit the motion of the blister against the underlying sub-skin. Flexible tape is not going to make a good sealhelp* Apply the adhesive promoter to the undamaged skin either side of the blister. You* Apply tape over the ball of the foot and up either side, but don're looking t circle the foot entirely as this could constrict blood supply.  ==Under the heel==This is similar to create pressure the ball of the foot, with the tape applied up either side of the heel. [[Blister Prevention# Blisters under the heel of the foot|Prevention tips]] ==Between the toes==A blister between the toes can be quite painful, and a little heatcan easily spread under the foot. File:* [[Blister Prevention#Blisters between toes|Prevention tips]]* Clean the area as well as possible, which can be difficult in this area. * A blister between the toes will sometimes require popping if the athlete is to continue running. * Tincture of benzoin is recommended.* A combination of Kinesio- TapedTex and Micropore or Leukotape is required.jpg|Here is * Apply the adhesive promoter to the skin of above and below the blister with .* Cut a butterfly shape out of the Kinesio-Tex tape, so that the narrow section will fit between the toes. * Apply the butterfly shape; help will be needed holding the toes apart. * Use Micropore or Leukotape to tape the ends of the butterfly down.* If time is limited, a simple strip of Kinesio-Tex tape could be used.* Dust in placepowder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks. File:==Back of the heel and Achilles==A blister here is almost as nasty as under the ball of the foot. Flexibility is required for normal foot movement and there is pressure from the shoe. * [[Blister - Extra AdhesivePrevention#Blisters on the back or sides of the heel|Prevention tips]]* A blister on the back of the heel or Achilles will sometimes require popping if the athlete is to continue running. * Do you have lots of time? Then use the luxury taping approach, otherwise use the rapid approach.  ===Rapid===* Clean the area thoroughly. * Tincture of benzoin is recommended, but use Mastisol if the conditions are wet.* Leukotape is the best tape choice.jpg|Now apply more * Apply the adhesive promoter to the skin around the Kinesio-Tex tape and blister, far enough around to ensure it goes beyond the taping. * Place a little on piece of Leukotape over the blister, providing at least 0.5 inch/1cm beyond the edge of the blister. * Gently smooth the tape itself where ; if there are any creases, pinch them into a few large folds and cut the folds away. * Dust in powder so the excess adhesive does not stick to the socks.  ===Luxury ===* Clean the area thoroughly. * Tincture of benzoin is required, but use Mastisol if the Micropore will goconditions are wet. File:Blister * Use Kinesio- Apply Tex with Micropore.jpg|* Apply Micropore the adhesive promoter to the skin around the blister, far enough around to ensure it goes beyond the taping. * Place a piece of Kinesio-Tex over the blister, providing at least 0.5 inch/1cm beyond the edges edge of the blister. * Gently smooth the tape; if there are any creases, pinch them into a few large folds and cut the folds away. * Apply more adhesive promoter to the skin around the Kinesio-Tex tape and to the edges of the tape itself, far enough around to stop ensure it from pealing upgoes another 0. File:Blister 5 inch/1cm beyond the Kinesio- FInishedTex taping.jpg|Here is * Apply strips of Micropore around the edges of the finished versionKinesio-Text tape. It's a good idea at this point to put some * Dust in powder over so the area so that any excess adhesive promoter doesn't does not stick to your sock and cause problemsthe socks. </gallery>