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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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* You can tape a blister with or without popping it. Popping a blister is a bad idea, but sometimes it's necessary if the blister will spread.
* Taping should be a last resort; try to fix the underlying problem first.
=How taping helps=
Taping can help in several different ways:
# Taping can act as another layer, so that your socks move against the tape, not against your skin. This can reduce the friction on your skin, but the sheering forces remain. A tape with a smooth texture is best for this.
# Taping can spread the sheering forces, so that instead of being concentrated in one spot, like the ball of your foot, it is spread over a wider area. You need an inflexible tape for this, and sometimes a little tension when applying the tape.
# A variation of #2 above is to use the tape to stabilize a punctured or open blister. Even slight movement of the detached skin over the underlying flesh can be painful, and a layer of tape and help prevent this.
# It is possible to change the shape of your foot slightly by applying the tape with some tension. I normally only do this when taping blistered toes. This requires an inflexible tape and just the right amount of tension; too much will cause more problems.
# Tape can be used to prevent dirt entering a punctured or open blister, which may limit infection. Use a little antiseptic ointment on the opening and cover with tape.
# While taping can provide some padding, the tape is normally too thin to have much benefit. Building up multiple layers does not provide much more padding, and can increase pressure locally.
=Tapes=
I've used various tapes on myself and other runners, as well as conducting some specific comparison tests. I've applied multiple tapes on dry skin, wet skin and wet skin with adhesive promoter and left them in place until they fall off to see how they hold up. The wet skin tests had semi-macerated skin, where I'd kept the skin wet for several hours to mimic race conditions.
