Blisters

There are things you can do to protect a blister and help stop it getting infected.

• keep the blister as clean as possible – gently wash the skin and pat it dry

• cover blisters with a soft plaster or padded dressing

• wash your hands before touching a burst blister

• allow the fluid in a burst blister to drain before covering it with a plaster or dressing

• do not burst a blister yourself

• do not peel the skin off a burst blister

• do not pick at the edges of the remaining skin

• do not wear the shoes or use the equipment that caused your blister until it heals

To protect your blister from becoming infected, a pharmacist can recommend a plaster or dressing to cover it while it heals.

A hydrocolloid dressing (a moist dressing) can protect the blister, help reduce pain and speed up healing.

Blisters are small pockets of clear fluid under a layer of skin.

Blood blisters may look red or black and are filled with blood instead of clear fluid.

An infected blister can be hot and filled with green or yellow pus. The surrounding skin may look red, but this can be hard to see on brown or black skin.

Do not ignore an infected blister. Without treatment it could lead to a skin or blood infection.

A GP might burst a large or painful blister using a sterilised needle. If your blister is infected, they may prescribe antibiotics.

They can also offer treatment and advice if blisters are caused by a medical condition.

Blisters develop to protect damaged skin and help it heal. They're mostly caused by friction, burns and skin reactions, such as an allergic reaction.

Blood blisters appear when blood vessels in the skin have also been damaged.

If you often get friction blisters on your feet or hands:

• wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes
• wear new shoes for short periods of time, until they're comfortable
• wear thick socks during exercise, such as moisture-wicking sports socks
• change your socks frequently if you get sweaty feet
• wear protective gloves when you exercise or if you use tools at work

Blisters are lumps under your skin that can be filled with clear fluid, blood or pus.

A blister will usually heal on its own. To help it heal and stop it getting infected, cover it with a plaster or dressing and do not burst it.

If a blister is very big or painful, a GP may drain it using a needle. If it's infected, you may need antibiotics.

You can help avoid blisters by wearing well-fitting shoes, only wearing new shoes for short periods at first and wearing thick socks while exercising.