Of the various skin irritations and allergies which trouble us, blisters are a quite common one. This condition is usually manifested as a result of excessive frictional activity on the surface of the skin. Wearing tight fitting shoes, constant rubbing of the skin and burns on the skin, all lead to the formation of blisters.If the blisters are painful and are filled with pus and blood, then it becomes necessary to avail immediate medical treatment.

But by taking proper care of the blisters from the very beginning, one can prevent the condition from getting worse. Here are some basic steps which will guide you on how to clean and dress blisters, and thus promote their quick healing.

Treating A Foot Blister

Blisters are more prone to occur in the feet as a result of improper care and wearing ill fitting footwear.If you notice a blister in your feet, then the first thing to do is to take the necessary precautions to avoid its irritation.  Try to keep the area of the blisters exposed to air and avoid wearing foot wear which can graze the surface of the blister. Cleaning of the blister is the first step to be done in its dressing process.  The affected area should be cleaned gently with soap and warm water. Do see to it that the soap is messaged gently onto the blisters and do avoid subjecting them to extra strain as it may lead to their breakage.

The Draining Process

The next step in dressing up a blister is to pierce them using a sterilized needle. For the purpose of sterilization, you can dip an unused needle onto an alcohol solution and then let the instruments to dry up completely. The blister is to be then pierced gently using the air dried needle, so as to drain the filled up liquid. There may be some skin which is left loose after the puncturing treatment. Do not ever remove this skin on your own as it may give rise to further infection. The skin will fall off by itself with time.

Dressing up the Blister

Do apply an antiseptic ointment on the blisters after you have drained out the fluid. The punctured blister is to be then dabbed with a cotton ball which is dipped in hydrogen peroxide. The cotton ball is to be then kept in place by using waterproof bandages. You have to remove the bandages on a daily basis and dress it up again with a fresh piece of cotton dipped in hydrogen peroxide. Application of the antiseptic ointment should also be done on a daily basis. Repeating this process continuously for 2 weeks will help in the effective healing of blisters.

Dealing With A Blood Blister

A small injury may lead to the formation of a blister filled with blood. If the blister formed is small in size, then the basic steps for care can be done at home itself. A cold pack should be first applied on the blister to relieve the pain. After this, do dry the affected area thoroughly and cover it up loosely with a clean bandage, without applying too much pressure. Do change the bandage once it three days or whenever it gets dirty. It will be wise not to break a blood blister, as it may lead to infection. Dressing up the blood blister in this manner for 7 to 10 days will lead to its complete healing.

Photo Credit : I-stretching.ru