blister, to pop or not to pop.

[HelenM]

I very stupidly ran 22km today in shoes I'd only used for a few short runs on the treadmill before. I realised they were rubbing but was horrified to find I have a blood filled blister about the size of a ?2 coin. Do I pop it and risk infection or leave it and hope it will go away?
I'm running the London Marathon in less than 2 weeks. (though it definitely won't be in those shoes, though I think part of the problem was I ran along the sea front and as it was very windy I got a lot of sand in my shoes)

 

[shiv]

I think the advice is always not to pop!! There are some fancy plasters you can get designed for blisters, I don't know if they work but they might be worth looking at at least?

 

[elliebug]

personally i always pop blisters, with a sterile needle, i find mine heal quicker without the fluid in and are more comfy, however, thats just me!!!

 

[elliebug]

I think the advice is always not to pop!! There are some fancy plasters you can get designed for blisters, I don't know if they work but they might be worth looking at at least?

i am naughty

 

[Blythespirit]

Not to pop. The blister is your body's way of protecting the damage til it heals itself. No pun intended (heals/heels...groan) XXXXX

 

[Natalie123]

Oh dear Helen, that sounds so painful. In theory you shouldn't pop blisters but I can't really speak as I don't always follow that advice! It should go down in 2 weeks and would probably heal better if you leave it than if you pop it. I would leave it for a day or so and see what it looks like then

 

[Steff]

No to popping from me too, ive never popped them I let them sort themselves out

 

[Tezzz]

Sorry to be the cat amongst the pigeons but blisters on the soles of my feet get popped with a lancet and smothered in savlon and covered with a plaster.

 

[Blythespirit]

There's always one. Lol XXXXX

 

[Blythespirit]

Oh! That last post made me a senior member....wish it had been more memorable. Watch out Steffie I'll be catching you up! XXXXX

 

[Freddie99]

I pop blisters. Drain them out, let them air dry for a few hours then I dress them using magnesium sulphate which is very good at drying out wounds and is a decent antiseptic. It works very well for me.

 

[Tezzz]

I get terrible blisters on my feet. Had them since I was a nipper. If I don't do what I do I can't walk.

 

[HelenM]

Well at the minute it doesn't hurt, it just looks rather alarming! I hope that the lack of pain says something about the blister and not my diabetes. I think I'll go with the 'not to pop' leave it until the morning, and if necessary go and look for some blister plasters in the chemists.

 

[Ellie Jones]

I haven't had blisters for donkey years..

But I can remember what my brother in law used to do.. Soak a piece of cotton and needle in surical spirit, then thread the cotton through the blister, this allows the fluid to seep out without letting air/infection in so he says!

But I've always gone with my mums advice, that is with new footware, use plasters on heels, little toes etc that are likely to rub! This means that the plasters take the bashing not the skin...

 

[Andy HB]

Mine tend to pop of their own accord anyway. But I admit to helping the process occasionally. Probably not a good thing, but I always find them painful and awkward until I do.

Andy 🙂

 

[Northerner]

I would leave it. The special blister plasters that Shiv mentioned are amazing - I've always found they work really well. Hope it doesn't interfere with your training too much. 🙂

 

[cazscot]

I never pop, as infection can set in. As Shiv says those blister plasters are fantastic. Goo luck with the training and hope it heals quickly xx

 

[Copepod]

I'd leave it overnight, see how much fluid is reabsorbed, before considering lancing & dressing in the morning.

 

[Northerner]

How did you do in the marathon Helen?

 

[AlisonM]

I vote for the blister plasters too. They really are that good. Good luck with the training.