Blisters usually do best with clean, protected, low-friction care : keep the area clean, cover it with a soft bandage or hydrocolloid dressing, and avoid popping it unless it’s large, very painful, or likely to burst on its own.

What helps most

  • Keep it clean: gently wash with soap and water, then pat dry.
  • Protect it: use a soft plaster, padded dressing, moleskin, or hydrocolloid blister bandage.
  • Reduce friction: stop the activity or change the shoes, socks, gloves, or equipment that caused it.
  • Let it heal if possible: intact skin over the blister helps block bacteria and lowers infection risk.

If it already popped

  • Wash the area with soap and water.
  • Leave the skin flap in place if possible; don’t peel it off.
  • Apply petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment, then cover with a nonstick bandage or gauze.
  • Change the dressing daily and whenever it gets wet or dirty.

What not to do

  • Don’t pop it just to speed things up.
  • Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or iodine on a popped blister.
  • Don’t keep wearing the shoes or using the item that caused it until it heals.

Get medical help

Watch for signs of infection like increasing redness, warmth, pus, swelling, red streaks, fever, or worsening pain.

For prevention, wear well-fitting shoes, moisture-wicking socks, and use padding or tape on hot spots before they turn into blisters.