MetaChat - To pop or not to pop... that is the question

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31 October 2006

To pop or not to pop... that is the question I have a huge blister on the ball of my big toe (too-thin socks rubbed it). I can never remember, are you supposed to pop it or leave it? At the moment it's uncomfortable to walk on and there's no way I'll be able to walk a mile to the station in the morning with a big blister on my toe.

Hope me!

post by: essexjan at: 13:20 | 11 comments

Ew! No popping!

posted by Specklet 31 October | 13:28

Or rather:

Popcorn, yes.
Zits, no.

posted by Specklet 31 October | 13:28

Bubble wrap, yes.

posted by tangerine 31 October | 13:31

Dammit, somehow I deleted most of my 'more inside'. I have a big blister on the ball of my big toe (caused by too-thin socks rubbing against my shoe). Do I burst it or leave it? It's uncomfortable to walk on, but will it hurt more if I pop it? It's ages since I had a blister, years probably, so I can't remember what to do. [note from taz: fixed]

posted by essexjan 31 October | 13:41

Oh definitly do NOT pop it.

I know it's uncomfortable, but it will heal much, much faster than if you pop it. And yeah, it will hurt more if you pop it.

The fluid in the blister is protecting that raw, new skin underneath. If you pop it, you will expose that new skin to air, drying it out (ow!) and making it grow slower.

I'm relieved you don't have some monster zit.

posted by Specklet 31 October | 13:55

Pop a blister? Ouch, no. (Maybe a tiny pin prick.)

posted by danostuporstar 31 October | 13:56

No dano, no! No popping at all!

posted by Specklet 31 October | 14:05

Whether you pop it or not, cover it with duct tape for 3-5 days. It will be all better (though kind of smelly) when you take it off. (Old Boy Scout trick, and yes, it really works.)

posted by Doohickie 31 October | 19:06

Bummer, ej... you might try some moleskin, to cushion the area around the blister and prevent the blister itself from rubbing as you walk. There are some directions on this page (steps 4 and 5, in particular), but you basically just cut out a donut-shaped piece of the stuff (the hole being the size and shape of your blister) and adhere it around the blister. Drugstores carry the stuff round here. Feel better. : (

posted by Pips 31 October | 23:13

As long as I'm not hiking, I pop blisters, but I heal fast. I can't stand walking around on all that pressure all day, I'd rather deal with raw skin.

Clean your hands and blister thoroughly (following hi-proof rubbing alcohol, hopefully), pinprick it with a well cleaned needle, drain it, clean it good and throw a bandaid on it. Or just clean socks. Keep it dry/clean overnight before going out and about in shoes again, and don't wear the shoes that blistered you.

The duct tape trick works, though.

posted by loquacious 01 November | 00:03

Have you ever used the blister bandages in the UK that suck up the fluid?

posted by brujita 01 November | 01:52

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