How do i treat a blister?
Blisters- those pesky little bubbles of fluid that ruin our day. Whether you got a blister from wearing shoes that are too tight or from getting second-degree burns on your hand because you were too busy trying to play the floor is lava instead of paying attention to cooking, blisters can be annoying and painful.
If you’re tired of dealing with them, this article will teach you everything you need to know about treating blisters without breaking the bank or compromising your sanity. Let’s pop into it!
What Is a Blister?
Before we dive straight into treatment options, let’s get an understanding of what exactly is going on when a blister occurs.
A blister is essentially a small pocket of clear fluid caused by friction or heat. This bubble forms between layers of skin as an attempt to protect the area underneath from further damage. While they might serve some purpose physiologically, blisters are not always welcome – especially if they’re keeping you from achieving peak comfort levels in life!
How Do You Prevent Blisters?
The best way to treat a blister is by preventing one altogether (duh!). Here are some tips for avoiding these unwelcome bubbles:
Wear Proper Footwear
Make sure your shoes fit comfortably and don’t rub against any areas where blots have been before.
Take Breaks If Mentally And Physically Active
Taking regular breaks while exercising can help prevent friction and sweating which cause most foot rush issues.
Use Protective Padding for Active Areas
Consider using moleskin padding over spots prone to getting irritated such as toenails or joint areas that may come under repeated pressure.
Now that we’ve covered prevention, let’s get down to business – how do we treat those already-formed suckers?
Immediate Treatment Options
So, maybe due to circumstances outside our control like putting out fires 🙂 (…get it?), you already have a blister. Here are some ideas to manage the situation:
Leave It Alone
The first step in treating a new, un-popped blister is simply leaving it alone as much as possible. As tempting as it may be to pick at or pop the bubble (and get that sweet, sweet release of draining the fluid), doing so can actually make things worse by introducing bacteria into the open wound and increasing your risk of infection.
Ice Pack
If pain and swelling around the area become unbearable, try icing for limited periods at a time (like 10 – 30 minutes) before bed- this will help relieve some discomfort during sleep.
Keep Area Clean
Keeping an active scratch clean helps prevent further harm. Make sure you clean blisters with soap after each activity until they’ve cleaned up entirely.
Advanced Treatment Options
If there’s no sign of improvement (usually within two weeks), if signs show-up like pus or increase in size, you mar want to consult a medical professional for advanced treatment options! These treatments include:
Popping It!
Before we go any deeper let me remind you – We still Do Not Recommend popping them yourself with needles (Oh Good You listened To Me Earlier about leaving 👏It👏Alone!) but…if they bother then seek medical attention from specialists who can easily drain unwanted fluids while keeping everything sterile.
Topical Antibiotics Like mupirocin
Mupirocin is commonly used to treat impetigo skin infections caused by certain types of bacteria usually found all over our body.
This topical medication should not be confused nor should anyone use/be sold Neosporin which contains other agents better suited for cuts and scrapes….
Anyway back on topic now 🙂
Pain Relief Options Like Acetaminophen Or Ibuprofen…
Over-the-counter supplements such as acetaminophen or maybe ibuprofen might be recommended by your doctor to help ease the pain – this type of medication reduces inflammation in tissues while also being capable of reducing fever.
Steroid Shot
Now, isn’t that word fun? A steroid shot provides quick relief for a painful rash or burn- Isn’t it amazing what modern medicine can do?
How To Bandage A Blister
If you need to cover up a blister before it heals on its own, here are some tips for properly bandaging the area:
Clean And Dry The Area
Wash any dirt off before dressing; pat gently with material (not tissue/similar) around and above so that lower layer remains untouched until later use.
Apply Ointment With Caution!
If you must apply an ointment like petroleum jelly, make sure not to overdo – too much may increase sweating & cause additional fluid collection inside the wound which would only prolong healing further along the way. Talk about counterproductive!
Cover The Blister With Fabric.
Using adhesive tape appropriate size and medical-grade covering is best when needed because Surgical Tape often irritates skin causing bunching instead-well just having slight discomfort nonetheless 😉
Finally let’s look at how long we should expect treatment options to last.
Conclusion: How Long Does It Take For A Blister To Heal Completely?
So there you have it! Everything you need to know about treating those pesky blisters. Depending on severity, things usually get better within one week after formation (or two weeks due to extenuating circumstances), provided patients follow our guidelines laid out herein (useful tips).
Although persistent ones sufferers might decide seeking extra assistance from doctors responsible for dermatology services available elsewhere than urgent care centers and kept focused all weekend-long starting Friday afternoon until Sunday night…
Well That was Informative And Nearly Fun!! Cheers!!!