To safely drain a blister, first, you properly wash your hands and disinfect the blister surface. Then you sanitize the needle and carefully puncture the blister. You can then cover the blister with petroleum jelly. Blisters usually refill fast so you will have to repeat this every 6 hours.
What is a blister?
A blister in lay terms is a bubble filled with a fluid that forms on the upper layers of skin. The most common blister causes are friction, burning, infections, chemical burns, and freezing. Blisters can also be a sign of a disease.
The purpose of this bubble is to secure and cushion the skin layers, protecting it from infections. Blisters can be filled with serum, pus, blood, or plasma depending on how they were formed.
Is it better to pop a blister or leave it?
Is it advisable to pop or drain a blister?
Blisters are filled with fluid. This fluid might be a clear liquid, pus, or blood. Regardless of what the fluid, blisters can be extremely uncomfortable or painful, especially if they form in places you use a lot, like the sole of your feet.
Everyone will tell you that leaving a blister alone is the best thing you can do. No draining, no popping, no tampering. True as it may be, sometimes you just need that bad boy out. The blister may be hindering movement and causing so much pain. In this case, you might consider draining it.
Everyone will tell you that leaving a blister alone is the best thing you can do. No draining, no popping, no tampering. True as it may be, sometimes you just need that bad boy out. The blister may be hindering movement and causing so much pain. In this case, you might consider draining it.
What causes blisters?
There are many conditions and activities that can induce blistering. Below are some of the more common causes of blisters.
Blisters caused by friction
Continuous rubbing or friction is one of the most common triggers of blisters. Friction blisters will generally appear on the feet or hands, as these are the areas that most often encounter recurring abrasion, whether using tools like a shovel or running. The palm and sole of the hands and feet are the victims.
Blisters form faster in damp and warm conditions, such as the inside of a shoe after running and sweating. Blisters can lead to more severe medical concerns such as ulcer and infection, although, under normal conditions, this is rare.
Blisters caused by extreme temperatures
Second-degree burns will blister instantly; however first-degree burns blister a number of days after the occurrence.
On the other hand, blisters can also be caused by frostbite. In both cases, the body tries to protect the skin from the dangers of either very high temperatures or very low by forming blisters.
Blisters caused by chemical exposure
Some chemicals can cause blistering on the skin. This is called contact dermatitis.
This can affect people who come in contact with:
- detergents
- cosmetics
- nickel sulfate
- solvents
- insect stings and bites
- balsam of Peru, a flavoring
- mustard gas and other chemical warfare agents
Types of blisters
The primary types of blisters are:
- friction blisters
- blood blisters
- heat blisters
Other kinds of blister are called after the condition they are associated with, such as atopic eczema blisters, chickenpox, and shingles blisters.
Should I pop that blister?
How to pop a friction blister?
Friction blisters are caused by repetitive pressure or rubbing, which produces inflammation. They can form from using shoes that don't fit, especially if they're too tight. While they can form anywhere that's exposed to friction, the hands and feet are the common blister areas. When you remove the source of friction, the fluid slowly drains on it own. It takes a couple of days, but after that, you will develop a new layer of skin under the blister. After this, the blistered skin falls off.
If the source of friction is not immediately removed, the blister can take numerous weeks to recover. In the meantime, the blister may pop by itself, oozing fluid. This likewise leaves the blister susceptible to infection. If you can't secure the blister from irritation, you might wish to consider securely popping it to prevent infection.
If the source of friction is not immediately removed, the blister can take numerous weeks to recover. In the meantime, the blister may pop by itself, oozing fluid. This likewise leaves the blister susceptible to infection. If you can't secure the blister from irritation, you might wish to consider securely popping it to prevent infection.
You should first know which blister you have before attempting to pop it. Some blisters should not be popped by yourself, at least it is not advised to do so.
How to pop a blood blister?
Blood blisters are friction blisters that contain a mix of clear fluid and blood. They're typically red when they first form. With time, they can end up being more purple. The blood comes from a broken blood vessel.
While they look slightly different, blood blisters and friction blisters recover the same way and are treated similarly as well. Again, you ought to only pop a blood blister if you need the affected body part badly.
How to pop a fever blister?
Fever blisters, or cold sores, are red blisters filled with fluid. They form on the face, close to the mouth. They can also appear inside the mouth, on the fingers, or on the nose. A couple of fever blisters typically form together as a clump.
Fever blisters are triggered by the herpes simplex infection, which is quickly spread to others through contact. Never ever pop a fever blister. It won't help it recover any faster, and you risk spreading out the virus to other places in your skin or spreading it to other people.
How do I safely pop a blister?
A blood blister or a friction blister that forms in an area that is often used means that it can easily rapture by mistake. To avoid this, it is better to safely pop it, taking the appropriate steps to ensure that it does not get infected.
Remember that blisters usually heal on their own within a few days. Popping a blister interrupts this natural process, and hence take a little longer to completely disappear. You'll likewise require to keep a close eye on it after you pop it to look for any signs of infection. If you're looking for a fast, simple fix, your better just leave the blister run its natural course. You can protect the blister further by padding it with moleskin.
Remember that blisters usually heal on their own within a few days. Popping a blister interrupts this natural process, and hence take a little longer to completely disappear. You'll likewise require to keep a close eye on it after you pop it to look for any signs of infection. If you're looking for a fast, simple fix, your better just leave the blister run its natural course. You can protect the blister further by padding it with moleskin.
Popping a blister to reduce the risk of infection
If you do require to pop a blister, follow these steps to minimize the threat of infection or other problems:
- Use warm water and soap to properly wash your hands. Tidy the surface area of the blister thoroughly with antiseptic wash, alcohol, or iodine.
- Sanitize a needle with alcohol. Use rubbing alcohol to soak the needle for at least 20 seconds.
- Carefully puncture the blister. Poke 3 or 4 shallow holes around the edge of the blister allowing it to slowly drain.
- Cover the blister with an ointment such as petroleum jelly.
- Use a dressing. Cover the blister firmly with plaster or gauze
- Repeat when necessary, blisters tend to fill back up very quickly. You may need to repeat this every 6 hours. After that, change the dressing and apply lotion daily.
How do I know if a blister is infected?
Popped blisters are at a greater risk of getting infections than blisters that are left to heal by themselves. If you do pop a blister, ensure to keep an eye out for any indications of an infection, such as:
- pus draining out
- a foul smell from the blister
- the blister and the skin around becomes warm
- swelling around the blister
- the blister becomes painful
If these signs are present, see a medical professional as quickly as possible to prevent the infection from becoming extreme. You ought to also follow up with a doctor if the blister does not appear to be healing at all after a couple of days.
How to treat blisters?
Blisters usually heal with any medical attention. As the new skin grows and the fluid will gradually vanish, and the skin will naturally dry and peel off. Popping blisters is not advised; this is how the body protects itself from infection. Popping blisters might leave the area vulnerable. Covering the blister can help protect it. You can use gauze or band-aid to give it cover while it heals. In case it bursts, do not peel off the skin of the blister. Let is drain and thoroughly wash with some soapy water. You can dress the blister. Make sure the dressing is dry and sterile.
Some over-the-counter medications, such as hydrocolloid dressings, can help prevent even more pain and promote recovery. Similarly, with blood blisters, allow them to recover with interference. They can be more painful than the other types of blisters, and an ice bag can provide some relief. Put a towel over the affected area, so that the ice does not come in contact directly with the affected skin.
Some over-the-counter medications, such as hydrocolloid dressings, can help prevent even more pain and promote recovery. Similarly, with blood blisters, allow them to recover with interference. They can be more painful than the other types of blisters, and an ice bag can provide some relief. Put a towel over the affected area, so that the ice does not come in contact directly with the affected skin.
Preventing blisters
Friction blisters are best avoided by getting rid of the friction and its cause. This can be attained in a variety of methods.
Preventing blisters on the feet
Buy new shoes that fit you properly. Friction causes the vast majority of blisters, therefore, reducing friction to the minimum will most definitely get rid of foot blisters. Shoes that are too small will significantly squeeze your toes and heels. This will generate a lot of friction between your feet and the shoes and hence the occurrence of many blisters. On the other hand, big shoes come with a different challenge but with the same results. When you walk in with big shoes, your feet keep sliding up and down. This vigorous movement causes friction. Buying new shoes that fit perfectly, therefore, becomes the first step in reducing friction between your feet and the shoes.
Buy shoes later in the day. The reason behind buying shoes later in the day is that your feet usually swell as the day proceeds. When you buy shoes in the morning, you will choose the ones that perfectly fit your feet at that time. When your feet swell later in the day, there will be no allowance for that. The shoes will become uncomfortable and lead to blisters.
Wear the right soaks to prevent blisters. Synthetic soaks are the best here! Cotton soaks will only soften your skin as it retains the sweat. This will leave the feet more vulnerable to blisters.
Change your damp socks to prevent blisters. Moisture and sweat in your socks and shoes lead to blisters. This is mainly because your feet keep sliding. Your feet and socks should always be dry and sweat-free. If you sweat a lot, or if you plan to work out for a long time, carry extra pairs of socks. Have them changed whenever they become damp.
Prevent blisters by toughening your feet. Blisters like soft and tender feet. If your feet are slightly hard and tough, getting blisters will not be easy. Calluses, for example, are natural padding for your feet. As you walk, or workout frequently, they slowly build up around your feet and hands due to friction. Calluses are not liked, but they are actually helpful in protecting your feet against blisters. You can moisturize the calluses to prevent painful cracks from developing. You can also toughen your feet using tannic acid. Apply 10% tannic acid on a towel and press on your feet twice daily. Do this for a couple of weeks. Runners and athletes use this trick to toughen their feet.
Protect the places vulnerable to blisters. If you have developed blisters in a spot before, then it might be vulnerable, especially when running or working out. These areas need to be covered to be protected. There are a number of options, including sports tape, gel bandages, special patches, and moleskin. Sometimes even a duct tape might come in handy. The disadvantage of covering the location is that frequently these plasters and pads do not stay where you've put them, especially as you continue walking or running. Find one that sticks well to your feet.
Lubricate your feet to avoid blisters. As established, friction makes the skin vulnerable to blisters. There is a lot of rubbing between your feet, socks, and shoes. If you minimize the friction, you reduce the chances of getting blisters. Feet lubrication is one of the best ways of doing this. Your feet will slide instead of rubbing. Vaseline or petroleum jelly is an affordable lubricant. The downside of petroleum jelly is that dirt clings to it. This means that there is more grit in your shoe to aggravate your foot, leading to more blisters. Other lubricants that can be used include AD Ointment, body glide, sports slick, sport shield, run goo, and Teflon.
Re-adjust your feet or shoes when you feel a hot spot. Blisters usually start as a hot spot. These spots can often be felt when you walk or run. The best action to take is to just stop and fix the problem. You can put a bandage, or create a protective doughnut around the hot spot if possible to reduce the friction. There are blister kits that come in handy available online. You can also re-adjust the socks as they might be bunched up causing the problem.
Buy shoes later in the day. The reason behind buying shoes later in the day is that your feet usually swell as the day proceeds. When you buy shoes in the morning, you will choose the ones that perfectly fit your feet at that time. When your feet swell later in the day, there will be no allowance for that. The shoes will become uncomfortable and lead to blisters.
Wear the right soaks to prevent blisters. Synthetic soaks are the best here! Cotton soaks will only soften your skin as it retains the sweat. This will leave the feet more vulnerable to blisters.
Change your damp socks to prevent blisters. Moisture and sweat in your socks and shoes lead to blisters. This is mainly because your feet keep sliding. Your feet and socks should always be dry and sweat-free. If you sweat a lot, or if you plan to work out for a long time, carry extra pairs of socks. Have them changed whenever they become damp.
Prevent blisters by toughening your feet. Blisters like soft and tender feet. If your feet are slightly hard and tough, getting blisters will not be easy. Calluses, for example, are natural padding for your feet. As you walk, or workout frequently, they slowly build up around your feet and hands due to friction. Calluses are not liked, but they are actually helpful in protecting your feet against blisters. You can moisturize the calluses to prevent painful cracks from developing. You can also toughen your feet using tannic acid. Apply 10% tannic acid on a towel and press on your feet twice daily. Do this for a couple of weeks. Runners and athletes use this trick to toughen their feet.
Protect the places vulnerable to blisters. If you have developed blisters in a spot before, then it might be vulnerable, especially when running or working out. These areas need to be covered to be protected. There are a number of options, including sports tape, gel bandages, special patches, and moleskin. Sometimes even a duct tape might come in handy. The disadvantage of covering the location is that frequently these plasters and pads do not stay where you've put them, especially as you continue walking or running. Find one that sticks well to your feet.
Lubricate your feet to avoid blisters. As established, friction makes the skin vulnerable to blisters. There is a lot of rubbing between your feet, socks, and shoes. If you minimize the friction, you reduce the chances of getting blisters. Feet lubrication is one of the best ways of doing this. Your feet will slide instead of rubbing. Vaseline or petroleum jelly is an affordable lubricant. The downside of petroleum jelly is that dirt clings to it. This means that there is more grit in your shoe to aggravate your foot, leading to more blisters. Other lubricants that can be used include AD Ointment, body glide, sports slick, sport shield, run goo, and Teflon.
Re-adjust your feet or shoes when you feel a hot spot. Blisters usually start as a hot spot. These spots can often be felt when you walk or run. The best action to take is to just stop and fix the problem. You can put a bandage, or create a protective doughnut around the hot spot if possible to reduce the friction. There are blister kits that come in handy available online. You can also re-adjust the socks as they might be bunched up causing the problem.
Preventing blisters on the hands
When performing manual labor, using tools, or playing sports that need you to told things like a bat, you need to wear gloves to prevent most of the blisters. In some sports, such as rowing, gymnastics, or weight-lifting, taping up the hands is common practice. Furthermore, talcum powder is used to reduce friction and can be used with the tape and gloves, or on its own. However, because talcum powder soaks up moisture, it will not work well after some time.
Blisters may be annoying, but are relatively safe and not considered as a medical issue. By following a few of the fundamental guidelines above, blisters can be easily prevented.
Blisters may be annoying, but are relatively safe and not considered as a medical issue. By following a few of the fundamental guidelines above, blisters can be easily prevented.
Conclusion on how to drain or pop a blister
Blisters are often tempting to pop, no matter their size or location. However this normally just interferes with the recovery process and increases the risk for infections. However, there are times when popping a blister under controlled conditions is necessary to prevent it from popping by itself. If you do pop a blister, make certain to do it securely and watch out for infections.
