# How do you treat friction blisters?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-friction-blisters/250633>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 16, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-friction-blisters/250633 "2004-06-16T12:09:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![King\_Eumenes\_II\_of\_Pergamum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@King\_Eumenes\_II\_of\_Pergamum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Eumenes_II_of_Pergamum)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-friction-blisters/250633/1 "2004-06-16T12:09:24Z")

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I went hiking and got a couple of blisters, a blood blister on my toe from rubbing a knot on the seam of my sock, and a clear liquid blister from where my shorts rubbed my knee.

I tried searching medical sites, but they all want to treat me for diseases that produce blisters, like measles.

Is there a best way to deal with this? Will pressure or ice remove the problem?  
Is it better to drain them now or wait?

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**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-friction-blisters/250633/2 "2004-06-16T13:49:13Z")

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I’ve used moleskin as a preventative for friction blisters on my feet. I have a problem with friction an the back of my heel so I apply the moleskin before walking or whenever I notice a “hot spot.” I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a blister from my clothes, but then I’m pretty lazy. I’d have to walk a lot more than I do now to even think that might be possible. What are your shorts made of?

I try to wait a few days before draining blisters, to let some skin harden up under the fluid, but I don’t always succeed in keeping my hands off the blisters. :o

IANAD, IAN(really)AHiker, either.

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**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-treat-friction-blisters/250633/3 "2004-06-16T14:13:40Z")

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-Don’t pierce the blister if it hasn’t popped already (the skin keeps it sterile.)  
-Protect from further friction with moleskin or bandaids.  
-Keep area clean and dry to the best of your ability.  
-Wait. The blister will collapse and form a callous on that spot.