A skin blister is a round area of surface skin that is filled with fluid, appearing like a bump or bubble. The fluid can be either clear or filled with pus or blood. Blisters typically appear on the skin on hands and feet, although they can appear elsewhere on the body. Some of the typical causes of blisters are friction and burns. Friction can occur when the skin rubs against the inside of a shoe, for example, or along the shaft of a garden tool. There are not many treatments for skin blisters, which usually go away on their own.
Bandage
According to the University of Michigan Health System, blisters usually drain by themselves. Keep the skin near the blister clean and covered with an antibiotic ointment and a bandage. If the blister is on the foot, some petroleum jelly can be applied on top of the bandage in order to reduce friction from walking in a shoe.
Moleskin
The University of Michigan Health System also suggests protecting the blister with a moleskin. Moleskins are small doughnut-shaped pads that can be placed over the blister with the blister in the doughnut's hole. This protects the blister from being subjected to friction, which can cause pain. Antibiotic ointment can then be placed on the blister and the moleskin and blister covered with a bandage.
Dried Blister
Once the fluid in the blister has drained and the covering skin has become dead and dried, the surface skin can be cut away. Once the surface skin is cut away, cover the underlying skin with antibiotic ointment and a bandage.
Infected Blister
If a blister becomes infected, medical attention should be sought. A physician may prescribe an antibiotic as treatment for the infected blister.
Large Painful Blisters
The fluid in large blisters that are painful can be drained. It is important that that the needle used to puncture the blister bubble be sterilized. This can be done with a flame, heating the needle and then allowing it to dry or with rubbing alcohol rubbed onto the needle. Puncture the blister, being careful to only pierce the dead surface skin, and apply pressure to drain the fluid onto clean gauze. Once the blister is drained, apply antibiotic ointment and a bandage.
Swelling
According to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, blisters can cause swelling, which may in turn cause discomfort. Swelling can be reduced with the application of an ice pack.
