How to Treat Water Blisters

Although most times they are not painful, water blisters can be quite an inconvenience. Blisters can keep you from doing activities you enjoy or from wearing a great pair of shoes. So to get rid of them quickly, follow these steps to treat blisters properly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Know how blisters are formed. They often come from constant or repeated friction against a small portion of skin, such as by gripping golf clubs or tennis rackets, holding garden tools or by ill-fitting shoes.
2. Prevent blisters by making simple adjustments. Wear gloves to garden and play golf or tennis to avoid blister-causing friction. Make sure the grip on your tennis racket is the right size for you. And don't wear shoes that don't fit properly--no matter how nice they are or how perfect for the occasion.
3. Treat the area with care once a blister has formed. Clean the skin over and around the blister and cover it with a dry, sterile bandage for protection. Avoid friction and refrain from the activity that caused the blister.
4. Use a donut shaped-pad to protect a blister if you can't avoid friction. Cut a hole in a pad that is the same size as the blister, and place the pad on the skin with the blister in the center hole. This way the pad will absorb the friction instead of the blister.
5. Refrain from puncturing the blister. Although you may be tempted to do so, puncturing is not an effective way to treat a blister. It creates an opening in the skin and welcomes infection. The fluid inside the blister goes away on its own as it is reabsorbed into your body. Once the fluid is reabsorbed, do not peel away the dead layer of skin. The skin protects against infection and falls off naturally.

Tips & Warnings

• Both friction-related blisters and those caused by mild burns require the same treatment.
• Always use antiseptic soap or cleaner when cleaning any type of wound.