Blisters: Should You Pop Them? How to Treat and Prevent Them

The fluid in a blister is a natural dressing. The skin on top protects the raw area underneath while it heals. That’s why, in most cases, the best thing you can do is leave it alone and protect it.

Imagine breaking in new work shoes on a 12-hour shift. By the end there’s a fat, tender blister on your heel. The temptation to pop it is huge. But tomorrow is another shift, and an open, infected heel would be far worse than a cushioned, intact blister.

How to treat a blister

• Don’t pop it. Cover it with a soft plaster or a hydrocolloid blister plaster
• Reduce pressure: change shoes or use padding around it
• If it bursts, let the fluid drain, don’t peel off the skin, wash gently and cover
• If a large, painful blister must be drained, a pharmacist or nurse can advise how to do it cleanly

Preventing blisters

• Wear well-fitting shoes and break new ones in gradually
• Choose moisture-wicking socks and keep feet dry
• Put a plaster or tape on known hot spots before long walks or shifts
• Wear gloves for repetitive tasks such as gardening

But when does a blister need checking?

See a nurse, doctor or pharmacist if a blister shows signs of infection (pus, increasing redness, heat, red streaks or fever), keeps coming back, appears without friction, or is from a burn, scald or sunburn. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, get any foot blister checked promptly.

Sources: NHS (Blisters), American Academy of Dermatology, Royal College of Podiatry. This guide is for general information and does not replace advice from your own nurse, doctor or pharmacist.