They hurt, they’re persistent, they’re delicate, and they make your life
miserable. How can something the size of a pea do that? Blisters are the bane
of sports enthusiasts, beginner runners, and the shoe obsessed everywhere.
New pair of Italian heels giving you trouble? Just started training for a
5K? I’ll bet people are full of advice on how to handle that new blister.
Here’s what you really should do.
The Roof! The Roof! The Roof is on fire!
Well, not exactly, though it may sure feel that way. The ‘roof’ is the
correct term for the skin covering your blister. If the blister is small and
not painful, the best thing to do is leave the ‘roof’ intact. Don’t attempt to
break or drain it. Just protect it with a bandage and some tape, and you’re
good to go. Breaking that protective seal is a sure way to cause unnecessary
pain and infection.
There is exception to this rule, however. If your blister is large, painful
and red, it is best to break the skin and drain the wound.
There really isn’t more than one way to skin a cat.
The only way you should break a blister is the way that I am going to tell
you. Doing anything else could result in infection and even more severe pain.
Gather your tools about you: a sewing needle, match, rubbing alcohol, cotton
cloths, bandages, and medical adhesive tape.
First, clean your blister by swiping a cotton ball doused with rubbing
alcohol on and around the injured area. Obviously make sure your blister is
closed, because if there is a tear in the skin that you don’t know about…well,
you will after you rub alcohol in it.
Next, hold the sewing needle in the flame of the match until it glows red.
When it has cooled, swipe it with the alcohol swab to clean off the black char
and kill any remaining bugs. Then take the needle and gently poke a small hole
in the skin. You may need to press the blister with a cloth covered finger to
make it pooch up enough to poke the roof without piercing the skin underneath.
Remember not to take off the skin, just poke a hole through it.
After poking a small hole, use a sterile cotton pad or cotton ball to gently
press on the blister in order to encourage the fluid to drain. Wipe away any
excess fluid.
Finally, put a thin coat of anti-bacterial ointment over the blister and
cover it with an adhesive bandage. Change the bandage every day or whenever it
becomes dirty or wet. If you exercise, you may want to use the medical tape to
tape over the bandage to help hold it in place.
Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t use our best judgment and tear the roof
off the blister. If the protective layer is partially removed or there is
already a tear in the blister skin, just remove the remaining roof with a pair
of sterilized medical scissors. Then treat and bandage as stated above.
When to See a Doctor
If the area around your blister becomes red, warm, and very painful you need
to see a physician. Infection can occur, especially in large blisters that have
been torn or improperly opened. If you have a blister in an area that has not
been injured by friction with shoes or clothing, see a doctor immediately to
rule out any serious conditions.
Now that you have that sucker under control, let’s talk about how to prevent
more. If you are wearing shoes that rub or constrict your feet, you may want to
consider new shoes. Unless you just can’t part with the $300 Italian leather
stilettos with crystal detailing. In that case, rub some Vaseline or other
lubricant over the areas that receive the most friction.
If your blisters come from sports and running shoes, your sock may be to
blame. Avoid 100% cotton socks, they will just soak up sweat, become wet and
rub your foot (also will grow bacteria like a Petri dish). Try wearing a thin
liner sock under a thicker sports sock. That way the liner sock receives the
friction, protecting your skin.