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Popping a blister is a bad idea as a blister will heal faster and better when left intact. A wound heals twice as fast in a moist environment than when dried out. The idea of 'drying out' a wound is dated and wrong. Drying 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 biggest problem with popping a blister is it introduces the possibility of infection. To make matters worse, a popped blister may refill with fluid, which is the worst of both worlds. Typically popping a blister will also make things more painful, so don't pop to reduce your discomfort. The fluid acts as a cushion to protect the raw flesh under the blister, so once the blister is popped, the two surfaces will then rub.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

**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, it will take the skin 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.

There are two techniques I will mention, but would not recommend them nor have I ever tried them. 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.