What is the proper way to "care’ for a blister from a burn?
Should you pop them? Or does the fluid keep the burn from drying up and scabbing over?
You can read about my stupidity here: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=36559
Don’t pop it. Cover it loosely to protect it from getting ripped off or otherwise irritated. Just let nature take its course, and it’ll heal just fine.
Don’t pop it - I don’t know what the fluid does, but while the blister is whole, you have unbroken skin, so it can’t get infected & go septic. Once you pop it that is no longer true (& most people don’t sterilise needles properly to do this…) & plasters (band aids?) aren’t as good as your own skin at keeping germs and dirt out.
I am a pick it until it bleeds type, but if I have a blister that won’t get popped from activity I force my self not to pop it. It isn’t so much as I feel the fluid is beneficial, but it means there is a barrier agianst new germs. I have yet to get or see an infection in an unpopped burn blister.
Only drain it if you’re absolutely certain that it’ll pop on its own if you don’t. Then, if you do, sterilize a needle in a candle flame or rubbing alcohol, and lance it with a small hole near the edge to drain it. Otherwise, your best bet is what’s called a donut bandage, which is basically felt or other thick cloth with a hole in it, around the blister, and some other sort of bandage over the top. The felt keep the outer bandage from pressing on the blister, and the outer bandage protects the surrounding area. This is also the proper way to deal with abrasion blisters, if possible.
having suffered through 2nd degree burns covering my torso (blisters ranging up to 8 inches long by 4 inches across), I feel I must add my knowledge and experience.
Please, do NOT pop those blisters. they will eventually go away on their own. infection is the very thing you need to be most cautious of. cover the burn with an antibiotic ointment (not cream - you have to rub too hard for creams), and then with a loose bandage. do NOT get it wet while it’s in the healing stages (still blistery)
The fact that a person here has NOT gotten infected does NOT mean that it’s not a serious risk.
If the burn is on an area where it’ll get alot of movement (on fingers, elbows etc) try and keep special attention to not bump it into stuff. For me, there was only a narrow space on my belly that wasn’t burned from my bra line to my panty line. the blisters were gone in about 10 days. after that, I still had sensitivity to hot water (go figure) for several months, in the area where it was burned. however, no scars etc.
Let them stay. They aren’t the same as blisters on the foot, so that may be where you got confused.
cold water makes them feel better.
I said I have not had an infection in an unpopped blister! I said not to pop it!!
I pop zits, i pick at scabs, i do not pop blisters unless I know for sure they will get popped anyway.
No one has mentioned the wonderful Aloe Vera plant yet? In a thread about burn blisters?
Techie, get yourself a piece of aloe, or go to the pharmacy at least and get some antibiotic ointment. Aloe is sliced width wise open and layed on the burned area, bound loosely with gauze if needed. It will relieve the pain, and is a great salve for the blisters, plus it’s great for your skin. Don’t pop the blisters, it leads to infection and scarring vs. the the fluid just being reabsorbed into your skin.
Sorry you got burned Techie! Hope it heals up soon.
I guess nobody likes to drain the blister, but I recommend it. My dermatologist does it this way:
Just prepare the skin first (swab with alcohol) and use a clean needle (dip in alcohol), then apply pressure with a bandaid. That way, some of the edge skin will stick back in place, leaving a smaller wound. Also, with a bandage applying light pressure, and there’s less chance for a raised scar. When a scab does appear, swab a couple of times a day with hydrogen peroxide, which dissolves the clot and prevents the scab from being the “lever” to pry a deeper wound when it catches on something.
And aloe is good, and vitamin A cream.