Blood blisters are caused by trauma to the skin, for example from a very hard pinch. After that, a red lump filled with fluid will appear that is very painful to the touch. While most blood blisters are harmless and go away on their own, it's important to learn how to treat blood blisters to minimize discomfort and prevent infection. There are steps you can take at home to treat blood blisters so you can heal them fully and safely.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Treating Blisters Immediately after Injury
Step 1. Remove the pressure from the blood blister
Start by removing any pressure and allowing the blister to come into contact with air. Make sure nothing is rubbing against or pressing on the blister. By allowing it to come into contact with air, the blood blister will begin its natural healing process. If nothing is pressing on it, the blood blister will remain intact and less likely to burst, tear, or become infected.
Step 2. Apply ice to the blister immediately after the injury if you feel pain
Ice can be applied to the blistered area for 10-30 minutes per session. This is done to relieve pain and cool it if the blister is hot and throbbing. You can also apply ice to the blister on a regular basis, not just immediately after the injury.
- Do not apply ice directly to the skin because it can cause frostbite or cold burn (often called frostbite). Place a towel between the skin and the ice to protect the blistered area.
- Gently apply aloe vera gel to the blood blister to relieve pain and swelling.
Step 3. Avoid rupturing the blood blister if the condition is normal
It may be tempting to do so, but popping the blisters can lead to infection and delay the body's natural healing process. If the blood blister occurs in an area that is usually under pressure, try not to apply additional pressure to that area.
Method 2 of 5: Allowing the Blisters to Heal on Their Own
Step 1. Keep the blood blister in contact with the air
Over time, most blood blisters will heal on their own, but keep the area around it dry and clean so the healing process can proceed as quickly as possible. In addition to speeding up healing, opening the blisters to expose them to air will also reduce the chances of infection.
Step 2. Reduce friction or pressure
If the blood blister occurs in an area that often rubs against something, such as on the heels or toes, take precautions to limit friction on the blisters. If you are exposed to frequent friction, the blisters will break or tear easily. This can occur when the blister rubs against the surface of an object, such as a shoe. The easiest way to do this is to wear a donut-shaped felt pad or moleskin.
You can use a doughnut-shaped pad made of felt or thick adhesive moleskin to reduce friction while keeping the blood blister exposed to air so it heals quickly. Make sure you've positioned the blister in the center of the pad to reduce pressure and friction
Step 3. Cover the blister with a bandage
Blisters that rub against objects constantly (such as those on a foot or finger) can be covered with a loose bandage to provide added protection. The bandage will reduce the pressure and friction on the blister, which will help it heal and reduce the chance of infection. Always use a sterile bandage, and change it regularly.
Before wrapping the bandage, clean the blister and the area around it
Step 4. Continue treating the blood blister until the area is completely healed
If the blisters are very large, see a doctor. Sometimes blisters like this have to be broken open to drain the fluid. You should leave this procedure to a professional to prevent infection.
Method 3 of 5: Knowing the Best Way and Time to Crack a Blood Blister
Step 1. Decide whether you should pop the blood blister
While the blood blister will heal on its own (and it should be like this in most cases), sometimes the best option is to pop the blister and drain the fluid. For example, when the blister contains a lot of blood and causes severe pain. Or when the size increases and is likely to break. Think about whether you really need to, and take precautions rather than taking risks.
- This is especially true of blood blisters as they require more careful handling than ordinary blisters.
- If you decide to break up and drain the fluid, do so carefully and methodically to minimize the risk of infection.
- Because of the risk of infection, do not burst the blood blister and drain the fluid if you have HIV, diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.
Step 2. Prepare to pop the blood blister
If you decide to drain the fluid in the blood blister, make sure you don't get it infected. Wash your hands and the area around the blister with soap and water before you start. Next, sterilize the needle with alcohol. This needle is used to puncture the blisters. (Do not use straightened safety pins as they are not as sharp as needles, and sometimes have rough edges.)
Step 3. Puncture the blood blister and drain the fluid
Puncture the edges of the blood blister gently and carefully with a needle. The liquid will flow out of the hole you made. If necessary, you can apply gentle pressure to the blister to help drain the fluid.
Step 4. Clean and bandage the drained blood blister
If you don't have allergies, you can now apply an antiseptic (such as betadine) to the blood blister. Clean the area around the blister and cover it with a sterile bandage. Once you've done this, avoid applying pressure or friction to the blister as much as possible. To avoid possible infection, continue to observe the blood blister closely and change the bandage regularly.
Method 4 of 5: Treating Broken or Torn Blood Blisters
Step 1. Carefully remove the liquid
If the blood blister bursts or tears from friction or pressure, clean the blister immediately to prevent infection. Start by carefully draining the fluid if the blood blister has ruptured.
Step 2. Clean the blisters and apply an antiseptic
After thoroughly washing the blister area, apply an antiseptic (if not allergic) ointment, as you did when you cracked it yourself in the previous step. Do not apply alcohol or iodine directly to the blisters, as these substances can slow down the healing process.
Step 3. Leave the peel on
Once the fluid has been drained, allow the skin on the blister to remain by gently smoothing it over the blistered area. This can protect the blisters and make the healing process easier. Do not peel off the skin around the edges of the blister.
Step 4. Cover the blood blister with a clean bandage
You should use a clean bandage to prevent infection. The bandage should be able to apply enough pressure to avoid further rupture of the blood vessel, but not be wrapped too tightly as this could impede circulation to the area. Change the bandage daily after the blister area is cleaned. Allow the blood blister to heal on its own in about a week.
Method 5 of 5: Monitoring for Signs of Infection
Step 1. Watch carefully for signs of infection while treating blood blisters
If you have an infection, your doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics to treat the infection. You should clean and bandage the blood blister well to reduce the chance of infection.
If you start to feel unwell with a fever or elevated body temperature, this may be a sign of infection
Step 2. Notice if the blood blister becomes more painful, swollen, or red around it
Some signs of infection include redness and swelling around the blister, or pain that has persisted since the blood blister appeared. Keep an eye on the development of blood blisters for signs of infection and take appropriate action.
Step 3. Look for a red line extending from the blister
If red streaks appear moving away from the blisters, this could be a sign of a serious infection that has spread to the lymph system. Lymphangitis often occurs when bacteria and viruses present in an infected wound spread to the channels of the lymph system.
- Some other symptoms of lymphangitis include swelling of the lymph nodes, fever, chills, loss of appetite, and a feeling of discomfort.
- Call your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.
Step 4. Notice if your blister is oozing pus or fluid
Discharge of pus is another sign of infection in the blood blister. Look for yellow and green pus or cloudy fluid that has clotted in the blister or is oozing out. Use your own judgment when handling the blisters and practice good hygiene to prevent infection.
