Someone once told me not to pop a blister. He said, “blisters are natures band-aid” don’t pop them. Then, not too long ago I saw a Dr. Oz segment suggesting that we pop our blisters. It’s all very annoying and confusing as I find that I’m always at a loss for what to do when I get a blister.

With that, I decided to look into the matter. Here’s what I found.

If the blister isn’t too painful, try to keep it intact. Unbroken skin over a blister provides a natural barrier to bacteria and decreases the risk of infection. Cover a small blister with an adhesive bandage, and cover a large one with a porous, plastic-coated gauze pad that absorbs moisture and allows the wound to breathe. Don’t puncture a blister unless it’s painful or prevents you from walking or using one of your hands.

If you need to drain/pop a painful blister, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands and the blister with soap and warm water.
• Swab the blister with rubbing alcohol, and sterilize a clean sharp needle with rubbing alcohol.
• Puncture the blister at several spots along the edge. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage.
• After a few days, remove the dead skin with a sterilized tweezers and scissors. Apply more antibiotic and a bandage.

And so now we know…

P.s. The above advice is taken from the MayoClinic.com