You have likely experienced a blister in your lifetime. Blisters form on your heel or other parts of your foot, usually after you’ve forgotten to wear socks or after wearing stiff new shoes. If you have a blister, you may be tempted to pop it to relieve your discomfort. Don’t! Popping a blister can cause more pain and further foot issues. Our bunion specialist in Bethesda, MD, explains how to properly care for a blister here.
How Are Blisters Treated?
Blisters tend to heal on their own. However, some blisters may be particularly large or painful. If you don’t suffer from diabetes, heart disease, or another serious condition (the risk of infection is serious for people with health problems), there is a method to drain it yourself at home and relieve the pressure:
- Wash your hands thoroughly
- Wash the blister and the surrounding area
- Apply iodine to the area
- Sterilize a sharp needle with rubbing alcohol
- Pierce carefully around the blister’s edge, leaving the skin intact
- Cover with an antibiotic ointment, place a bandage and wrap gauze around the area.
Check your blister regularly for infection and contact our podiatrist if any signs of infection appear.
Why Can’t I Just Pop It?
Small to moderate-sized blisters tend to heal on their own. The skin that covers the fluid acts as a barrier between the wound and outside dirt and bacteria. Popping a blister exposes raw skin and can lead to infection and make the healing process longer and extremely painful. Your body will naturally reabsorb the blister if you opt to not drain it.
Further Considerations
If you see pus, have excessive swelling, or the blister becomes red and painful, you may have an infection. In this case, you should immediately visit our podiatrist, especially if you have diabetes, as an infection can cause extremely dangerous ulcers.
Contact Our Bunion Specialist in Bethesda, MD, to Find Out More Today!
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other podiatry-related topics, feel free to contact The Podiatry Center by clicking here or by calling 301-232-3764.
