How to treat and prevent blisters, according to dermatologists and podiatrists
Whatever you do, don’t pop your blister. Here’s what medical experts recommend instead.
Aveeno makes some of our favorite body washes for sensitive skin, and this one is ideal for cleansing the area around your blister since it’s fragrance-free and dye-free. It’s formulated with moisturizing ingredients like oat flour, extract and oil. The liquid body wash turns into a rich, creamy lather as you use it.
Applying an occlusive ointment to blisters can help reduce friction when the area rubs up against clothing or shoes, says Dr. Mary Stevenson, a dermatologic surgeon and an associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health. Vaseline, which is made from 100% petroleum jelly, is one option that’s beloved by many NBC Select staffers. You can use it on blisters, sunburns, dry skin and chapped lips, so it’s worth keeping a jar at home. Vaseline earned the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance, and it’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and won’t clog pores, according to the brand.
While you should not purposely pop a blister, they can pop on their own. In these cases, applying an antibiotic ointment is important to prevent bacteria from getting inside the open wound, experts told us. Neosporin is a topical antibiotic ointment many NBC Select staffers have used for years, and it’s made with bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate and polymyxin B, ingredients that help prevent skin infections, according to the brand. You can apply a small amount to your blister up to three times a day until the wound closes.
You don’t have to cover a closed blister, but doing so often makes people more comfortable, especially if they have a blister somewhere that experiences consistent friction, like the feet when they’re in shoes, says Saxton-Daniels. Covering a popped blister, however, is a must — doing so prevents dirt and germs from getting inside the open wound. Bandages like these have adhesive on both sides to stick to skin and a piece of gauze in the middle to cushion and protect the blister. Band-Aids are flexible so they move with you and stay on for up to 24 hours, according to the brand. This pack comes with Band-Aids in different sizes so you can choose the one that best fits your blister. Many NBC Select staffers keep Band-Aids in their at-home first aid kits since they frequently come in handy.
Stevenson recommends using bandages made from hydrocolloid, an occlusive dressing, to cover blisters. Hydrocolloid bandages are made with an ingredient that turns into a gel when it absorbs fluids, creating a moist environment that encourages healing, according to the brand. The bandages also form a seal around the affected area you’re covering, keeping dirt, germs and water out. Since these bandages are soft, they won’t stick to or pull on your blister. They stay on for up to seven days, but our experts recommend replacing your bandage daily. For best results, the brand recommends applying the bandages, which have a 4.5-star average rating from 23,424 reviews on Amazon, on totally dry skin. So if you use an ointment beforehand, wait a bit before placing the hydrocolloid bandage on top.
Preventing most blisters involves eliminating friction between a surface, like the heel of your sneaker or the handle of a gardening tool, and your skin. You can do so by padding an area on your body with a bandage or lubricating the skin with something like an anti-chafing stick.
Wearing protective clothing like socks and gloves can also prevent blisters, says Saxton-Daniels. And as far as the feet are concerned, avoid walking barefoot on hot surfaces, like pavement in the warmer months, and be sure to wear properly fitting shoes at all times, says Dr. Jacob Wynes, a podiatric surgeon and an associate professor of foot and ankle surgery for the University of Maryland Medical System. Shoes shouldn’t feel so tight that they’re restrictive, or like your feet are sliding around in them, he says.
Moleskin is a woven cotton fabric, and Saxton-Daniels recommends using bandages made from the material to pad areas that may experience frequent friction, like certain parts of the feet depending on what shoes you’re wearing. The bandage prevents the skin from making direct contact with whatever is rubbing up against it, reducing potential irritation and discomfort, she says. Dr. Scholl’s moleskin padding comes in a roll, allowing you to customize the size of each piece you cut, and it has a skin-safe adhesive on the back. The bandage, which has a 4.6-star average rating from 10,932 reviews on Amazon, is thin enough that it won’t impact how your shoes fit, according to the brand.
Nexcare’s Blister Prevention Tape is made from flexible, cushioned foam that has water-resistant, skin-safe adhesive on the back, helping it stay on your body even while you’re sweating, according to the brand. The tape, which is one inch wide, comes in a roll so you can customize the size of each piece you cut or wrap it around your hands, fingers, feet or ankles. It has a 4.6-star average rating from 20,543 reviews on Amazon.
I always keep these little cushions at home because they’re quick fixes for shoes that are irritating my feet. I place them inside my shoes in areas that are rubbing against my skin and could lead to a blister if I wasn’t proactive. The cushions are about one-inch by one-inch large and have an adhesive back, helping them stick to the interior of shoes. They don’t start to lose their stickiness over time, in my experience — I put a few cushions in a pair of winter boots and they’ve stayed put for over two years. I also frequently cut the cushions in half so they fit smaller areas in my shoes, like a thick strap on a sandal.
Before wearing shoes without socks, like sandals, slides or flip flops, you can apply this clear balm to your feet to prevent straps and buckles from rubbing on your skin. It’s made from plant wax, which is water-resistant, sweat-resistant and fragrance-free, plus it doesn’t have a greasy or oily feel. It has a 4.5-star average rating from 12,819 reviews on Amazon.
In addition to wearing socks when it makes sense, it’s important that your shoes fit well and are broken-in before wearing them for extended periods of time, says Hartzell. If you try shoes on and are worried that they’re a bit too tight, consider stretching them out with a shoe stretcher like this one. You can use it to make shoes wider and longer, as well as add space above the top of the foot. The shoe stretcher, which has a 4.5-star average rating from 5,142 reviews on Amazon, comes with eight bunion plugs, allowing you to stretch whatever specific area your bunion rubs up against.
Blisters are fluid-filled sacs that form underneath the skin’s surface, says Hartzell. They’re usually caused by something repeatedly rubbing against and creating friction with your skin, like a pair of shoes. You can get blisters anywhere on the body, but they most commonly occur on the feet and hands, she says.
There are three main types of blisters: friction blisters, blood blisters and heat blisters. Blisters can also form due to allergic reactions or certain skin conditions, which you’d need to see a doctor about.
Friction blisters
Friction blisters are the most common type. They’re caused by repeated rubbing or friction, and they form when clear liquid builds up under the upper layers of the skin, says Hartzell. Many people get friction blisters on their feet if they wear ill-fitting shoes for extended periods of time or if they don’t wear socks. But you can also get friction blisters on your hands from holding tools or gym equipment. Speaking from personal experience, kids are prone to friction blisters on their hands if they frequently use the monkey bars on the playground.
Blood blisters
Blood blisters usually form after something pinches your skin — for example, if part of your hands or fingers gets caught between the heads of pliers or gardening pruners. Instead of clear liquid, blood from broken vessels builds up under the skin to form a blister, says Hartzell.
Heat blisters
Burns and sunburns can blister, and if they do, they’re classified as second-degree burns, says Hartzell. Blisters may also form as someone warms up while recovering from frostbite.
Blisters can last days or weeks, depending on how large the blister is and where it’s located, says Stevenson. Eventually, your body reabsorbs the fluid that’s inside the blister and it goes away. But if it feels like your blister isn't getting better despite consistent treatment, experts recommend consulting your doctor.
No, you should not pop a blister or remove the roof of a blister (meaning the skin that covers it), says Saxton-Daniels. The fluid inside a blister serves as protective dressing over healing skin and prevents the deeper layers of skin from developing an infection.
Most people don’t need to see a doctor about a blister, but if you experience any of the following symptoms, experts say it’s a good idea to consult a medical professional.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at NBC Select who writes about skin care, including stories on how to treat ingrown hairs, sunburns and razor burn. For this article, she interviewed three experts about how to treat blisters and rounded up the best products to do so with their guidance in mind.
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