Draining Painful Blisters

Having blisters can be a painful nuisance, especially when they are on your hands and feet, appendages you must use every day to perform the most mundane but necessary tasks.

So, how should you deal with blisters?

Under ideal circumstances, they should be left alone to heal on their own. But, sometimes, that's just not practical. For example, if you have a blisters on the soles of your feet, it can turn the walking you have to do every day at work or school into a painful exercise. And that necessary, daily walking will probably cause the blister to pop anyway.

Sometimes, it's just best to drain the blisters yourself. That way, you can treat them immediately and prevent possible infection.

This is how you safely drain blisters.

1. Clean the blisters, and the skin around them, with a cotton ball that's been dipped in alcohol.

2. Next, sterilize a needle by either dipping it in alcohol, or running it through an open flame until it starts to glow. Either method will kill any germs on the needle. (And remember not to set the needle down or touch the sterilized end.)

3. Stick the needle into the side of the blister, making a good sized hole.

4. Drain the blisters by gently pressing on them, so that you squeeze the fluid out of the hole you made with the needle. The fluid should be clear and odorless. If not, the blisters are already infected, and should be seen by a doctor.

5. You can help keep blisters from getting infected by using an antibiotic cream or ointment. Try Neosporin, Polysporin, or a similar over-the-counter remedy.

6. After you've drained the blister, protect it with a bandage. You can also use sterile gauze and waterproof adhesive tape. Change the bandage or dressing daily, at least. And, while you should wear a bandage until blisters have healed, remove it for a few hours each day. Air will help with healing.

Whatever you do, do not remove the top layer of skin from blisters. This layer of skin offers protection, helps keep the area from getting infected, and helps promote faster healing. And removing this "roof" of tissue also causes more pain than if you'd left the skin in place.

If blisters become infected, you should see a doctor immediately. Here are some signs that blisters are infected.

• The fluid isn't clear, or has an odor.
• Blisters have become red or swollen.
• The blisters, or the area surrounding them, becomes hot or "feverish."
• A yellow crust develops over the blisters.
• Blisters start to hurt more over time instead of less.