Please read this whole blog post. It’s important that we are aware of what can happen when a blister becomes infected and goes bad.
Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about an actress who came close to sepsis after a blister on her foot became infected. Fast forward to August, two months ago, when Gemma Downey, a 23-year-old fashion model became the center of attention for a badly infected blister on her heel. The headline in UK’s The Sun tabloid told the story: Killer Heels – Bister from a new pair of heels left model fighting for life with killer sepsis.
Downey felt her shoes rubbing against her heels when she was walking to an appointment. These were not ordinary heeps – they were espadrille platforms. Here’s a picture of the offending shoes.
She stated the rubbing from the strap broke the skin and a tiny blister formed. When she noticed it had a strange color, she went to a doctor who put her on antibiotics. It didn’t seem to be getting better so she went to the hospital where they didn’t “find anything concerning.” He sent her back to the hospital, where she was treated for sepsis and cellulitis. Two days later she was discharged.
Afterward, when she had pains all over and chest pain, she knew something more was wrong. Her doctor told her that her heart rate was sky high, her blood pressure eas really low, and her temperature was high. By then, the blister had started turning blue and was draining.
Looking at the images of the blister, you can see the progression of the infection. Medical staff typically mark around the area with a pen so they can track if the infection has spread. In the last picture, you can see the ugliness of the infected blister. This is very serious. It can be life-threatening. When sepsis continues to progress, body systems begin to shut down, and death can follow.
It’s important to clean the area around a blister before lancing it. Then apply an antibiotic ointment, reapplying it as you shower and apply a new dressing. Watch it for signs of infection: redness, swelling, warm to the touch, red streaks up the foot, pain, and as time goes, drainage that is off-color and bad-smelling. See your doctor or go to the emergency room.
Gemma was told she could only wear flip-flops for several months. She says the incident won’t stop her from wearing heels.
The images are credited to the Caters News Agency.
