Blister Care
Treating friction blisters on feet and hands
Step by Step
Prevention first: properly fitting footwear, clean dry socks, and stopping when hot spots burn. If a blister forms and is small and intact, leave the skin on, cover it with a padded plaster or blister dressing, and let it reabsorb. If it is large, tense, or in a spot that will keep rubbing, some guidance allows draining it: clean the skin, use a needle sterilized with a flame, pierce the edge, press the fluid out, leave the roof of skin attached, and cover with a dressing. Keep the area clean and watch for infection: spreading redness, pus, or increasing pain means medical advice, especially for people with diabetes, who should never drain blisters themselves.
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