Foot Health

Should You Pop a Blister?

In most cases, you’re better off leaving that blister alone. But there are exceptions you should know about, and times when you should see a doctor.
Should You Pop a Blister?
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Published on September 12, 2024
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You may be tempted to pop a blister, particularly one that's itchy or painful. But in many cases, the fluid that accumulates under a blister (and makes you want to pop it) aids healing.

So, the answer to whether to pop or not to pop is often: No, do not pop it. But in some cases, depending on the type of blister, dermatologists actually do recommend that the blister be drained.

Here’s what you should know.

Is It Safe to Pop a Blister?

In most cases, you should avoid popping a blister.

 This is usually the safer choice because the fluid inside helps speed up the healing process; and with any open wound (including an intentionally popped or accidentally burst blister) you run the risk of infection.

But depending on the type of blister, if done safely, you can — and sometimes should — drain it.

Here’s what to know about popping or not popping the following types of blisters.

Friction Blisters

Friction blisters form when something rubs repeatedly against your skin, often on the hands and feet. Most commonly they appear because of poorly fitting shoes, or prolonged use of gardening tools like shovels or rakes.

Generally they shouldn’t be popped and should be left to heal on their own.

“I recommend that patients let their blisters be, but if it’s causing discomfort or you think it may open on its own, you can safely burst it yourself to prevent infection,” says Rosalyn George, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Wilmington, North Carolina.

If left alone, friction blisters should disappear in a few days.

Repeated exposure to whatever caused the blister in the first place (such as if you wear the same pair of shoes that caused a blister again) can extend the time it takes for the blister to heal.

Blood Blisters

You can think of blood blisters as a sibling of friction blisters, caused by many of the same activities that can damage your skin. But instead of serum (the clear fluid contained in friction blisters), they’re filled with blood.

 They fill with blood because the irritation is usually more severe and causes damage to small, nearby blood vessels.

As with friction blisters, you should leave blood blisters unpopped in most cases. If you have a large or painful blood blister that you suspect is at risk of bursting on its own, visit a dermatologist rather than popping it yourself, says Mohiba Tareen, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Roslyn Heights, New York, and a medical reviewer for Everyday Health.

Blood blisters typically take around a week to heal on their own, depending on how badly your skin was pinched. It is normal for a blood blister to turn red, black, or purple.

But if a blood blister turns white, yellow, or green (a sign that the blister is filling with pus) — or if the skin around the blister starts to turn red or swell — seek medical attention. These can be signs of infection.

Burn Blisters

Burn blisters can appear after your skin experiences a temperature extreme like a typical burn or sunburn.

 On the opposite end of the spectrum, a blister might also form after your body warms up from frostbite. Either indicate that you’ve suffered a second-degree burn.

You should not pop a burn blister, because they are very prone to infection, says Gretchen Frieling, MD, a dermatopathologist in private practice in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

A smaller one will normally take about three weeks to heal when left alone.

 But if you apply a petroleum-based jelly (after gently washing with soap and water and drying), your blister will likely heal faster, Dr. Frieling says.
If your skin turns black, white, or red with a leathery appearance, you likely have a third degree burn and should seek a doctor’s care.

Fever Blisters or Cold Sores

If you have a fever blister, also known as a cold sore or herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1), you want to keep your hands off of them. HSV-1 is very common, infecting about 67 percent of people globally under the age of 50.

Unpopped cold sores normally last one to three weeks; when medication is applied early on, they may go away sooner.

 You should not pop them because they are highly contagious. Open sores can easily infect others or different parts of your body.

How to Safely Pop a Blister When You Must

If your friction blister is in a painful spot or is at risk of bursting on its own, here’s how to safely drain it while avoiding infection.

  1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water.
  2. Clean the surface of your blister with soap and water.
  3. Wipe it with alcohol and let it dry.
  4. Disinfect a needle with rubbing alcohol, soaking it for at least 20 seconds.
  5. Prick your blister at the lowest point, letting gravity help drain it. Make sure you leave the skin intact, it will act as a natural bandage to protect from infection.
  6. Clean off the area with soap and water, then apply an ointment like petroleum jelly or another healing ointment. Frieling recommends avoiding triple antibiotic ointment (an over-the-counter medicated salve, typically containing neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin to prevent infection of minor wounds).

  7. Cover your blister with a bandage, preferably waterproof, or hydrocolloid dressing.

What Happens to a Blister When You Don’t Pop It?

If left alone, your body will absorb the fluid and heal the skin underneath, which takes around 7 to 10 days.

“If you leave the skin intact, it will act as its own bandage,” says Dr. George.

You can also cover a blister with a bandage or moleskin, which can provide padding in high-friction areas.

To apply moleskin to a blister:

  • Cut a piece of moleskin larger than your blister.
  • Fold the non-adhesive sides together and cut a doughnut-like hole, about the size of your blister.
  • Unfold the moleskin and place around your blister.
  • Cover the blister with a bandage.

When to See a Doctor About a Blister

Typically, a blister doesn’t require a doctor’s visit, but there are some exceptions.

If your blister isn’t getting better within a few days, you should see your primary healthcare provider. If it has become especially large or painful, you should seek medical care, where a doctor may drain it.

 Additionally, see your doctor if you notice a blister, but don’t know what caused it or your blister is accompanied by other symptoms (such as fever or nausea).
If you think that your blister has become infected, you should also seek medical attention as soon as you’re able, recommends Coyle Connolly, MD, a dermatologist in private practice based in New Jersey. Without proper treatment, an infected blister could lead to a skin or blood infection.

Indications that your blister has become infected include:

  • Pain or warmth on or around the blister
  • Reddening on the blister or around the area
  • Swelling of the blister
  • Pus filling or oozing out of the blister
  • Fever-like symptoms

The Takeaway

In most cases, you should leave blisters unpopped. Burn blisters, blood blisters, and cold sores should never be popped, because of the risk of further complications. It might be advisable to pop a friction blister if it is at risk of popping on its own, in which case you should take proper precautions to safely pop it. See a doctor if your blister is swollen, feels warm or painful, oozes pus, or if you’re experiencing fever-like symptoms.

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Jacquelyn Dosal, MD

Medical Reviewer

Jacquelyn Dosal, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Skin Associates of South Florida in Coral Gables. She practices general, medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology.

Dr. Dosal provides compassionate care to all her patients, listening to their concerns and creating a treatment plan with each patient's priorities and real life in mind.

She is a member of the voluntary faculty at the University of Miami.

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Matt DiDomenico

Author

Matt DiDomenico is a freelance journalist pursuing a master's degree at the CUNY Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Matt has covered arts and culture, as well as health and mental health. He has also covered local news for The Island 360, which is based in Roslyn Heights, New York.

Matt lives in Queens, New York, and enjoys cooking, making playlists, and spending time with friends and family.

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