Walked five miles in flip-flops. To ward off infection, Dr. Goldfarb recommends keeping the area as clean and dry as possible—and leaving it alone.
Along with carefully washing the blister with warm water and soap, Dr. Goldfarb recommends changing your socks multiple times during the day. At night, apply antibacterial ointment or cream to the area, and top it off with a Band-Aid. Apply antiseptic and a dressing or sticking plaster to the area to protect it and keep it free from dirt or irritants. Don't use tape alone for the dressing, as removing the tape may rip the roof skin off the blister.
Change the dressing daily and re-apply antiseptic. Avoid 'folk remedies' like applying butter or vinegar. These don't work. When to seek medical attention for a blister See your doctor or other health professional for treatment if: the blister is caused by a burn, scald or severe sunburn the blister starts weeping pus yellow or green, sometimes smelly, fluid the area becomes increasingly swollen or inflamed you suspect the blister is infected you develop multiple blisters without any preceding skin injury.
Treatment for blisters If your blister requires treatment by a health professional, this may include depending on the cause of the blister : sterile drainage of fluid from the blister professional dressing or padding techniques antibiotics, in the case of a bacterial infection antifungal preparations, in the case of a fungal infection antiviral preparations, in the case of a viral infection treatment for any underlying allergy.
Prevention of blisters Blister prevention strategies include: Wear properly fitted shoes. Choose moisture-wicking socks socks that draw sweat away from your feet or change socks twice daily if you have sweaty feet, as wet socks cause friction and rubbing.
Wear 'sports socks' when exercising or playing sports. If you become aware of a localised 'hot' area on your foot, stop your sport and tape the area immediately. Apply a foot spray deodorant to reduce sweating and the risk of fungal infection. Change damp socks promptly, as wet socks can drag against the skin. Wear heavy-duty work gloves when using tools such as shovels or picks. Protect yourself against sunburn with clothing, hats and sunscreen lotions.
Avoid unnecessary skin contact with chemicals. Be careful when dealing with steam, flames or objects that radiate heat such as electric stovetops. Blisters , My Dr. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. It's important not to ignore an infected blister because it could lead to secondary impetigo a contagious bacterial infection of the skin and further complications, such as cellulitis or sepsis. You should also talk to your GP if you have blisters in unusual places, such as on your eyelids or inside your mouth, or if they appear after severe sunburn, burns or scalds or an allergic reaction , or after coming into contact with chemicals or other substances.
Read more about what causes blisters. There are a number of things you can do to avoid getting blisters caused by friction, sunburn or chemicals. For example, you can:. Read more about preventing blisters.
Blisters are most often caused by skin being damaged by friction or heat. Certain medical conditions also cause blisters to appear. The damaged upper layer of skin epidermis tears away from the layers beneath and fluid serum collects in the space to create a blister. Friction blisters are common in people who are very active, such as sports players and those in the military.
They're usually caused by poor-fitting shoes. A blister can develop if the skin is rubbed for a long period or if there's intense rubbing over shorter periods. Friction blisters often occur on the feet and hands, which can rub against shoes and handheld equipment, such as tools or sports equipment.
Blisters also form more easily on moist skin and are more likely to occur in warm conditions. Blisters can sometimes form when your skin comes into contact with substances such as cosmetics, detergents and solvents. Read about burns and scalds. They can also develop as an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting.
As new skin grows underneath the blister, your body slowly reabsorbs the fluid in the blister and the skin on top will dry and peel off. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat an infected blister.
If you have a large or painful blister, your GP may decide to decompress the blister under sterile conditions. If your blisters are caused by a medical condition, such as chickenpox , herpes or impetigo , your GP will be able to advise you about how to treat the underlying condition.
The unbroken skin over a blister provides a natural barrier to infection. It's important that the skin remains intact to avoid infection. As tempting as it may be, try not to pierce a blister with a needle because it could lead to an infection or slow down the healing process. Allow the skin to peel off on its own after the skin beneath has healed. You may choose to cover small blisters with a plaster. Larger blisters can be covered with a gauze pad or dressing that can be taped in place. Painful blisters, or those in positions where they're likely to burst, such as on the sole of your foot, can be covered with a soft dressing to cushion and protect them.
It may help to cut the dressing into a 'doughnut' shape to fit around the blister and avoid placing pressure directly on it. If a blister has burst, don't peel off the dead skin on top of the blister.
Allow the fluid inside to drain and wash it with mild soap and water. Cover the blister and the area around it with a dry, sterile dressing to protect it from infection until it heals. Hydrocolloid dressings, available over the counter from pharmacies, have been shown to help prevent discomfort and encourage healing. If the top layer of dead skin from a burst blister has already rubbed off, don't pick at the edges of the remaining skin.
Follow the advice above to protect it from infection. Blood blisters should be left to heal naturally.
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