Blisters: Home Remedies and How to Prevent it

If you have blisters then one of the most prominent question that must be lingering in your mind would be “Should I drain this off? or just let it be?” As long as the blisters are small and don’t look like it will break free by itself then you should not probably disturb it. Because most blisters will heal by itself better when you leave it untouched. However, some blisters may need to be drained especially if it really big and painful. You can do the draining process yourself following the steps the mentioned in the article or you can seek the help of a Doctor. We will see some simple ways through which you can deal with blisters and how to ease the pain and irritation it might have on you. And last but not least, we will also see how you can effectively prevent the occurrence of a blister?

What causes it?

Blisters are usually the result of friction and heat generated due to the friction on your skin layer. It mostly occurs when you have a moist skin and your skin’s defense mechanism forms tiny pockets of fluids protected by a thin layer of skin. Sometime blister formation is accompanied by damage to the tiny blood vessels in the affected area. This can lead to the formation of blisters that are dark red in color. The commonplaces of blisters are hands and feet. But it can happen in other regions as well.

Some other potential reasons for blisters include eczema, poison ivy, sunburn, other burns, and certain skin conditions.

How to Ease blisters and reduce the pain

What to do if blisters pop?

Sometimes blisters can pop by itself or by accident. In those situations immediately wash the affected area with a soap and some antiseptic liquid if possible, dry it out thoroughly and apply a cream or gel such as Neosporin or Betadine. After the application cover it with a bandage as an emergency measure.

Make an anti-septic oil mixture with two parts of tea-tree oil to three parts of vegetable oil. Remove the applied bandage every five hours and apply this oil to the affected region and cover it back again. Tea-tree oil is known for its antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties so it fights any infection causing bacterias and helps the blisters to heal faster.

How to drain a troublesome blister?

Sometimes a blister may be really large and quite disturbing, and it can occur in a place where it is quite hard to protect from blowing up. In these situations, you can drain the blister by yourself using the steps below.

Step 1: Clean up the blisters with some rubbing alcohol or make use of an antiseptic solution like betadine.

Step 2: Sterilise a needle tip by holding it over a flame for few seconds till you notice the needle tip becoming red hot. Now let the needle cool down completely. Do not use the needle while it is still hot.

Step 3: Take some sterile gauze pads and gently place it on top of the blister and hold it in place. Now gently pierce the topmost layer of the skin sideways in the affected area which holds the liquid. Apply some pressure on the gauze pad to push the liquid out. Do not be harsh on the outer skin.

Ensure the needle tip doesn’t damage the inner skin layers as it can sometimes lay foundation for infections. Also, do not peel off the outer skin layer. 

Step 4: Once the liquid inside the blister is drained, apply an antibiotic cream or ointment like Neosporin in the place and use a bandage to cover it up. You can also use an extra layer of protection by covering the bandage with skin moist burn pad which is available in drugstores. Change the bandage twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late evening or night.

Step 5: Sometimes blisters can start to accumulate the liquid again, you can make use of the same procedure to drain it down again.

If you can replace Neosporin cream with a mixture or Vitamin-E and calendula ointment which works great as well.
If you feel you cannot do this by yourself, then you can seek the help of a Doctor and he can help you better.

How to Prevent it?

When should you seek a Doctor’s Help?

Small blisters should not be a source of worry. Usually, blisters heal by itself when you leave it undisturbed. But sometimes it can be a source of serious pain, itching, and burning sensation, some blisters can be unusually large over two inches across and don’t heal sooner. There can be pus formation, redness, and yellow crusting. If you have any of these then you must get it to the attention of a Doctor. Blisters can also be a sign of chicken pox, eczema, and impetigo. If you have blisters accompanied with fever, immediately take the advice of a Doctor.

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