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Blister First Aid - Kit, Home Care, What to Expect

Feb 14 , 2022 | 1 min read

A blister is a bubble of skin filled with clear fluid ranging from pinpoint size to more than an inch in diameter. Common causes of blisters include friction and burns. Try to keep a blister intact, if it isn't too painful. Intact skin over a blister provides a natural barrier to bacteria and decreases the risk of infection.

What to Expect

Fluid-filled skin bubble
Usually heals in two to three days

When to Rush to the Doctor

Swelling around a blister
Redness
Increasing pain or warm skin
Pus/yellow discoloration
Blood filled

How to Drain a Blister

Wash your hands and blister with warm water and soap
Swab the blister with iodine or by rubbing alcohol
Use a sterilized needle to puncture the blister
Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage
Cut away all dead skin after a few days

Home Care

Cover small blisters with an adhesive bandage and large ones with a porous, plastic-coated gauze pad
Don't puncture a blister unless it is painful or prevents you from walking or using your hands
To relieve blister-related pain, puncture the blister with a sterile needle. Ensure you clean the blister with iodine. Apply an antibiotic ointment to the blister and cover it with a bandage

A First-Aid Kit for Blister Should Include