Blisters can occur anywhere on the body, but they pop up most often on hands, arms, feet or legs, where they are the source of a lot of misery and inconvenience.
Blisters are pockets of fluid or blood beneath the outer layer of the skin. Irritation and rubbing, burns, frostbite, poison ivy and other skin diseases are usually responsible.
1 Blisters usually heal by itself
Generally speaking, blisters are better off left alone. The fluid inside is gradually reabsorbed, so most blisters will go away by themselves once the cause is remedied.
2 Prevent friction
Keep a blister clean, dry and intact after it does form. Use an ice pack to reduce inflammation, then protect the area with a doughnut-shaped moleskin pad to absorb friction and speed healing.
3 Do not break it
Don’t break a blister or you may develop an infection, which is the major complication. If the blister does break, however, bathe gently with mild soap and water. The skin over the blister is called the ‘roof’. Many people remove the roof. Leave it in place; it’s a natural bandage. Afterward, apply an antibacterial ointment and cover with a sterile bandage.
4 Drain it if needed, but with extra care
Occasionally, a blister needs to be drained. If so, first clean it with soap and water. Sterilize a needle by heating it over a flame until red hot, or disinfect it with alcohol. When the needle cools down, pierce the lower edge of the blister allowing fluid to escape. Use your finger to squeeze out the remainder. Again, as with a broken blister, save the roof and cover with a clean, dry bandage.
5 Prevent infection
But a blister caused by a burn should not be opened. Use ice water to relieve the pain and then wrap the area in several layers of sterile gauze to keep the air out and to prevent infection.
6 Expose it open air
However, other blisters that are not caused by a burn may heal quicker if you leave the bandage off at night and expose the sore spot to air. If the dressing becomes wet, change it to avoid contamination. A nightly soaking in warm water, followed by a good airing out, helps the healing process.
7 Keep the bandaging simple
When bandaging, keep the dressing simple. If the blister is too big for a regular bandage, use a gauze pad with waterproof adhesive tape to keep it in place.
8 Wear right pair of footwear and avoid long walks
Since many blisters are caused by friction, especially those on heels and feet, a sure remedy is simply to remove the source of irritation. Avoid tight shoes and long walks, tennis or golf matches too early in the season.