General Question

Perchik's avatar

Callus/blister with clear liquid inside?

Asked by Perchik (4997points) January 4th, 2008

After a 4 hour climbing session, a bubble of skin formed on my hand, full of some clear liquid. It’s about pea sized. Should I just ignore it, or try to pop it to drain the liquid out?

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8 Answers

gooch's avatar

don’t drain it. You are not suppose to pop blisters. Popping it allows infection to the site.

atr408's avatar

realy? I would pop it cuz Im the kinda person who just picks at crap but yeah if ur not saposed to thn I guess u shouldnt… But if u dont pop it how does it go away where does the liquid go

sndfreQ's avatar

Don’t pop-the liquid in the blister contains white blood cells which stave off infection; that area of your dermis is undergoing repair-it will either pop itself or subside in time.

You may wish to cover it with a bandage and antibacterial ointment, but that’s not always necessary unless the area is inflamed or itches (possible signs of infection). Cover it if it is unsightly or if you think you’ll pick at it out of nervousness-otherwise “Let it Be”...

Perchik's avatar

The biggest problem it poses is that it’s in the palm of my hand, and I’m afraid working with my hands will pop it. I’ll just put some antibacterial stuff and a bandaid and let it be.

skfinkel's avatar

I think covering the blister is the way—not popping it might be challenging, but is better, as the others have said.

gailcalled's avatar

I have heard that if you make a really small prick w. a sterilized needle (dropped in boiling water for a few minutes) wipe up the fluid w. a sterile gauze pad, then put on triple antibiotic ointment and a clean band-aid, you should be find. If, as you say, your daily activity may cause it to burst, you are better off doing it yourself in a clean environment. Change bandaid and reapply salve 2x/daily.

We used to pop the big blisters on the backs of our heels that came from hiking in boots that weren’t quite broken.

artemisdivine's avatar

first off EWWWWWWW blisters are nasty he he.

Introduction
Friction, minor injuries, pressure and sunburn all can cause blisters. If you can prevent a blister from getting infected, it will usually go away within a few days. Try these steps and see if you can get rid of any blisters you might have.
Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need
Gauze Pads
Moleskin
Bandages
Hydrogen Peroxides
Antibiotic Ointment
Cotton Swabs
Steps

Step OneClean the skin around the blister.

Step TwoPlace a doughnut-shaped piece of moleskin over the blister. This will keep pressure off it.

Step ThreeTry to avoid popping the blister unless it’s in an especially awkward place, such as the bottom of your foot. The blister provides a sterile environment for the skin underneath. Breaking it makes the area more susceptible to infection.

Step FourIf you need to pop the blister, use sterile implements, puncture it in a few places at its base and drain the fluid.

Step FiveIf you need to puncture it or if it breaks on its own, clean the area with soap and water or Betadine.

Step SixAvoid peeling any skin off the blister; this can lead to an infection and delay healing.

Step SevenCover the exposed blister with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and dry sterile gauze.

Step EightChange the gauze regularly and watch for signs of infection, such as pus or redness.

Tips & Warnings
Aloe vera can be effective on many skin conditions, especially burns. Try rubbing pure aloe vera gel on the blister to see if it helps.

If the infection from a blister doesn’t clear up quickly, your doctor may want to prescribe antibiotics.

via http://www.ehow.com/how_3365_care-blister.html

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