Blisters

Overview

Blisters often heal on their own within a week. They can be painful while they heal, but you will not usually need to see a GP.

There are things you can do to protect a blister and help stop it getting infected.

keep the blister as clean as possible - gently wash the skin and pat it dry
cover blisters with a soft plaster or padded dressing
wash your hands before touching a burst blister
allow the fluid in a burst blister to drain before covering it with a plaster or dressing

do not burst a blister yourself
do not peel the skin off a burst blister
do not pick at the edges of the remaining skin
do not wear the shoes or use the equipment that caused your blister until it heals

To protect your blister from becoming infected, a pharmacist can recommend a plaster or dressing to cover it while it heals.

A hydrocolloid dressing (a moist dressing) can protect the blister, help reduce pain and speed up healing.

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Do not ignore an infected blister. Without treatment it could lead to a skin or blood infection.

a blister is very painful or keeps coming back
the skin looks infected - it's hot and the blister is filled with green or yellow pus
the skin around the blister looks red, but this can be harder to see on brown or black skin
a blister is in an unusual place - such as your eyelids, mouth or genitals
several blisters have appeared for no reason
a blister was caused by a burn or scald, sunburn, or an allergic reaction

A GP might burst a large or painful blister using a sterilised needle. If your blister is infected, they may prescribe antibiotics.

They can also offer treatment and advice if blisters are caused by a medical condition.

Conditions that can cause blisters

Conditions that can cause blisters include:

chickenpox - a childhood illness that causes itchy spots
cold sores - small blisters that develop on the lips or around the mouth, caused by a virus
genital herpes - a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that most commonly affects the genitals
bullous impetigo - a bacterial skin infection
pompholyx - a type of eczema
scabies - a skin condition caused by tiny mites
hand, foot and mouth disease - a viral infection that usually affects young children

Blisters develop to protect damaged skin and help it heal. They're mostly caused by friction, burns and skin reactions, such as an allergic reaction.

Blood blisters appear when blood vessels in the skin have also been damaged.

If you often get friction blisters on your feet or hands:

Page last reviewed: 22 November 2023
Next review due: 22 November 2026

Information sourced from the NHS. If you have concerns about your medication or symptoms, pop in or call Hedon Pharmacy - we're here to help.