Has anyone had sudden itching, followed by huge blisters on feet?

Posted by bevf @bevf, Aug 3, 2025

This is a shot in the dark. I have PN, non diabetic with tingling and burning mainly at night. Recently in the shower I rubbed my feet vigorously to dislodge dead skin. That night, first on one heel than the side of the other foot, an area became very itchy, followed shortly by a large blister, a quarter to half dollar size with sharp shooting pains at the site. Urgent care wants me to see my dermatologist. Could the rubbing have irritated my PN? I haven’t come in contact with anything, no new lotion, or food.

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See if you can get in to the dermatologist. They usually pay attention to blistering.

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I saw the dermatologist. She drained the lesions, added antibiotic cream, took a biopsy and wrapped my feet. She’s not sure what caused it.
I’m hoping for the best. In the scheme of things its a minor problem.

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I saw the dermatologist. She drained the lesions, added antibiotic cream, took a biopsy and wrapped my feet. She’s not sure what caused it.
I’m hoping for the best. In the scheme of things its a minor problem.

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@bevf just wondering if you got results from the blisters on your feet. I am 56 and have had the blisters 2x. They start as a wee little bump on the bottom of my foot. Strangely, when the appear, both the top and bottom of my foot in that area are terribly itchy. Then within 12 to 24 hours a blister starts to form. It becomes painful, my foot swells and I have to have it drained. After it is drained it weeps, or fills up again and needs continual draining for a few days (up to 5 days) before it starts to heal. The last one, it was almost gone and 2 more started in the same area. It is causing me to walk off kilter and in turn causes hope and foot pain.

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Saw this post while scrolling over to the long/post COVID group and was curious to read and the responses. My similar experiences: in early April 2023, I, fully vaccinated and still masking, got COVID, brought home by my spouse from a mandatory in-office team-building event. Usually, he eats at his desk, away from others - and masks in our apt. building, to and from the walk to work, and in the office. At the 1.5 day team building, the only way to eat or hydrate was with the group, all but one other unmasked the entire time. COVID came home, a very sick husband, who got on Paxlovid right away. I tested positive 2 days later and for 10 days. Took one dose of Pax. and had a horrible allergic reaction; doc took me off of it. In the early part of the 10 days, I developed a very bad rash on my inner right thigh and on my right leg around my ankle and horrible edema, mostly in right foot and leg, plus a really bad ingrown large toe-toe nail, none of which I'd ever had before.

With that came blisters on my heels - both feet but far worse on right foot. Went to ER twice, dermatologist 1x, primary care 1 in person and 1 tele-visit plus sent photos, and to a podiatrist. Lots of guesses, lots of prescribed topical meds - all different - no samples taken of fluid in blisters or rashes by any one. I also had (have) the very rough edges around my heels, helped somewhat by pumice, and twice a day unscented lotion. Now nearly 3 years in, the blisters come and go; the edema is less but still there; the leg rash on my thigh (interestingly never really looked at - only ankle one and when pointed out, they said "we assume it's the same" as your ankle-- I suggested otherwise. I wasn't heard.

The areas of the blisters does itch but not as bad as some in this discussion have described. The podiatrist, who I've now seen multiple times because my big toes' nails continue to grow in - and I keep my nails short, unpolished - did not think the blisters were caused by the edema; said it wasn't "COVID toes", and had no explanation for any of it. FOR ME it appears to be all long COVID related and nothing I do keeps it from returning.

I wish I had something helpful to say. I do not know if those experiencing this had COVID, even a mild version, or took Paxlovid. I add this to the discussion because it seems long COVID remains a mystery (tho' more research is being done) and the list of symptoms continues to have areas added.

Thanks.
JE

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