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If you get a blister, should you pop it? This Popping a blister is a question of finding bad idea, but sometimes it's the least bad only option. Naturally, as there is no ideal solution, other than preventing it's better to [[Blister Prevention|prevent the blister ]] in the first place ([[Blister Prevention]]).
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Popping Blisters - Should you pop a blister?}}
==Don't Pop the Blister==
Popping a blister is a bad idea. A as a blister will heal faster and better when left intact. The fluid creates A wound heals twice as fast in a better healing moist environment; the than when dried out. The idea of 'drying out' a wound is dated and wrong. Wounds need to be moist to heal correctlyDrying out a wound or bursting a blister can also increase the scar tissue that is left behind. The fluid inside a blister creates a good healing environment, far better than any dressing. The other biggest problem with popping a blister is it introduces the possibility of infection. AlsoTo make matters worse, a popped blister may well refillwith fluid, which is the worst of both worlds. Popping Typically popping a blister may not will also make things more painful, so don't pop to reduce the your discomfort in the way you expect, and can make it worse. The fluid can act acts as a cushion to protect the raw flesh under the blister. Once , so once the blister is popped, the two surfaces will then rub. ===Speeding the healing===Keeping the blister warm can help speed up the healing process. Simply wrapping the area with warmer clothing can make quite a difference, as well as protecting the blister from knocks. You can apply some gentle heat, such as an infrared lamp or a [[Theratherm]] electric blanket, but be sure you don't overdo it and burn the area. If the blister is larger, it may need to be protected or supported. ===Moleskin Doughnut===The alternative to popping a blister due to pressure is to build up the area around the blister so that the pressure is relieved. Moleskin can be cut out in the shape of the blister, forming a doughnut shape that reduces pressure on the blister if it is small enough.===Taping Blisters===Putting tape over a blister on your foot can help reduce the pain. Care must be taken to ensure the tape does not peel up, causing further blistering. See [[Taping]] for more details.
==Pop the Blister==
The '''only''' reason to pop a blister is when pressure will cause the blister to spread. That's the only reason; if the blister is not going to spread due to pressure, leave it alone.
==How to Pop a Blister==
If you have to pop a blister, your biggest risk is from infection. Bursting the blister will impair healing, but an infection will obviously make things far worse. Follow these steps...* Clean your hands to make sure they are sterile. * Sterilize the area first by wiping with an antiseptic wipe. Make sure you wipe the whole blister and the surrounding area.* Ideally you should have a sterile tool to burst the blister. If you are using scissors, or anything else that is not in a sterile package, you must sterilize the area firstit. I use hypodermic needles for bursting blisters as they are very sharp and quite long. (One caution: hypodermic needles can be considered 'drug paraphernalia' if you don't have a good medial reason for having them. ) * Puncture the blister at the edge, ideally at the edge that will be lowest most of the time so that gravity aids drainage. I use hypodermic needles for bursting blisters as they are very sharp. Multiple punctures may be needed to provide sufficient drainage. * Use a sterile dressing to push out the fluid, taking time to ensure you remove as much as possible. You can use an antiseptic wipe for this, but getting any of the antiseptic into the blister can be quite painful. * Cover the blister with a sterile dressing; I have found . ** Ideally, use a 'hydrocolloid' dressing, such as 'Band-aid blister cushions work well for meAdvanced Healing Blister Cushions'. A hydrocolloid dressing is one that is water and air tight, with a gel that absorbs fluids. This can keep the wound moist without becoming saturated (macerated). ** You may need an adhesive promoter such as tincture of benzoin to help keep things in place. Be careful with tincture of benzoin: If you put it near the punctures in the blister it can seep inside and be quite remarkably painful. Also, putting tincture of benzoin **Putting an adhesive promoter on the blister itself will mean that the blister and the dressing are bonded. When you then try to remove the dressing, making it will take the dressing harder to removeskin of the blister with it. If possible apply tincture of benzoin only to the surrounding skin.* If possible, leave the blister alone. Do not change the dressing unless it starts to come off or leaks. You can leave the blister covered for up to a week.
==Other Techniques==
There are two techniques I will mention, but would not recommend and them nor have never I ever triedthem. One is to thread a strand of cotton through a blister so that it continues to drain. I feel that this increases the risk of infection significantly. The other technique is to inject tincture of benzoin into the blister after it is emptied, which glues the detached skin to the underlying flesh. I hear that this is amazingly painful and I am not sure of the risks in doing this. The alternative to popping a blister due to pressure is to build up the area around the blister so that the pressure is relieved. Moleskin can be cut out in the shape of the blister, forming a doughnut shape that reduces pressure on the blister if it is small enough. The best place for blister care supplies I found is [http://zombierunner.com Zombie Runner]. I would also recommend the book [[Book Review – Fixing Your Feet|Fixing Your Feet]].