# Blood blister - should I drain it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 1, 2001, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737 "2001-10-01T08:22:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737/1 "2001-10-01T08:22:09Z")

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I hit my thumb with a hammer yesterday (I said ‘ouch’) - I now have a largish blood blister on the tip of my thumb.  
It’s not particularly painful except if I touch it, but there’s an uncomfortable feeling of pressure.

Should I burst it?

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**Author:** ![Doc\_Nickel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Doc\_Nickel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Nickel)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737/2 "2001-10-01T08:54:23Z")

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Negative. Not right away anyway.

The blister helps seal out infection and protects the “new” skin underneath. It’s tough sometimes, but really, the best thing is to ignore it for at least a few days.

I’m not a real doc, but suffice to say I’ve thunked my digits with all manner of heavy objects over the years. You’re obviously still new that this- us vets can usually think of _far_ more creative things to say than just “ouch”.

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**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737/3 "2001-10-01T08:59:06Z")

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Plus, I think blood blisters have clotted blood underneath. I don’t think it would drain. I could be wrong though.

Lorie

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737/4 "2001-10-01T15:07:25Z")

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try [webmd.com](http://webmd.com) in the meantime & see what they say.

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737/5 "2001-10-01T15:17:53Z")

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I’ve had many a blood blister on my fingers and toes from racket sports and running. Never drained them. As Doc Nickel said, the skin protects. Healing will take place under the skin and it will be gone in no time.

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**Author:** ![booklover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@booklover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/booklover)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-blister-should-i-drain-it/84737/6 "2001-10-01T16:33:59Z")

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It’s probably not medically recommended, but I’ve done it—it’s just the same as popping a regular blister only it’s blood.