How to Treat a Blister

Blisters are best covered up and left alone to heal.

According to MayoClinic.com and your mother, the best treatment for a blister is simply to leave it alone: Don't pop it. Keep it clean and covered with an adhesive bandage, and it will soon go away on its own. Sometimes, though, a blister is painful enough, large enough or in an inconvenient enough spot that leaving it alone is not feasible. In these cases, treating a blister is a bit more involved.

Things You'll Need

• Soap and water
• Paper towels
• Rubbing alcohol
• Sewing needle
• Antibiotic ointment
• Adhesive bandages
• Epsom salts

Instructions

1. Wash your hands with soap and water, and then wash the blister with soap and water and pat dry.

2. Moisten a small area of a paper towel with rubbing alcohol, and rub it gently over the blister.

3. Moisten another small area of a paper towel with rubbing alcohol, and rub it thoroughly over a sewing needle.

4. Use the needle to poke several small holes near the edges of the blister. According to MayoClinic.com, this method will allow easy drainage but also leave the skin mostly intact.

5. Press lightly on the blister with your fingers, if needed, to help it drain, wiping away the excess fluid with additional paper towels. Leave the skin over the blister as intact as possible -- do not peel it away.

6. Apply antibiotic ointment to the popped blister, and cover it immediately and securely with a clean adhesive bandage.

7. Remove the bandage once a day or so, and soak the blistered area in Epsom salts, following the instructions on the package. According to podiatrist Sheldon Laps in Runner's World magazine, this will promote further draining of the blister, and encourage the skin to tighten up again.

8. Apply a clean bandage after soaking and drying the blistered area. Keep the blister covered until the area has dried out and the skin has tightened up.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that the best treatment for a blister is to leave it alone if possible.

• For a very large blister, use a piece of sterile gauze and first aid tape instead of an adhesive bandage.

• If you are a diabetic or are suffering from a circulatory condition and have a blister or blisters on your feet, consult your doctor.

• If you notice any signs of infection or if your blister is slow to heal, visit your doctor.

References

• MayoClinic.com; Blisters: First Aid; January 12, 2010
• "Runner's World"; Banishing Blisters; Marlene Cimons; July 12, 2007