Understand a blood blister
Understanding a blood blister proves very essential before we start treating it, with this applying to all blisters whether they are on the hands, feet, or any other part of the body.
It is best to understand a blood blister that is formed when the blood vessels near the surface of the skin is damaged without opening of the skin. It looks like any other blister and occurs more prominently on the fingers and toes when they are either bruised or pinched. It is best to understand a blood blister as a blister that looks either red or purple. It can prove to be painful and it is very essential to prevent infection and take proper care to treat them in time.
Being similar to other blisters in the healing process, it is important to know that these blisters containing blood or damaged blood vessels are caused due to a number of reasons. Some of the prominent reasons could be trauma to the skin like forceful pinching, scalding, burning, sunburn, fungal or viral infection or exposure of chemicals or allergens to the skin.
Additionally blood blisters could also result out of friction that is applied gradually like wearing a new shoe with a blister on your feet. It is noticed that blood blisters heal effectively when they are left alone. Trying to burst or meddle with them could cause infections that could take time to heal.
However it is important to note that if it bursts it is best to keep the area covered with a sterile dressing. It is true that blood blisters could be painful, but this can be relieved by using a pack with ice or frozen peas or corns that should be applied immediately after the injury that caused the blood blister. It is best to not allow the ice to directly touch the skin as it could cause a type of burn to the affected area; the ice should be wrapped in a towel.
The ice should be applied for 10 to 30 minutes at a time with rest periods of 5 minutes between applications. Infected blood blisters and blood blisters caused by medical conditions are treated by doctors in various ways like antibiotics.
Treating blood blisters on the feet
It is best to allow blood blisters to heal at their own pace with treatment. Being patient and not intentionally popping or draining a blood blister, but elevating it so that the blood can flow from it helps. You would do your best initially applying a cold pack.
It is best to cover the blister during the healing process. Understanding blood blisters on feet becomes significant, with runners and athletes enjoying the benefit of remaining healthy and in shape, but also suffering the consequences of getting blisters on their feet.
The reason for athletes and runners suffering the consequences of blisters lies in the fact that their feet get not only hot but sweaty with the socks sticking on their feet and rubbing against them. This rubbing together inside of the shoes causes fluid and blood to fill up in the space that is protected inside the skin to form blood blisters.
This is the very reason why blood blisters are common in athletes, runners, and walkers that participate in hiking, mountain climbing and marathons.
Leaving the blister alone is not what laymen alone say, it is also the valued advice of doctors. Leaving the blood blister alone allows for the blister to reabsorb and heal itself. It is however necessary to clean the blister making sure that it is not torn. You could use soap and water or also clean it by rubbing alcohol.
If the blood blister bursts on its own accord it is best to take adequate precautions to avoid infection. It is best to take care to cover the opened skin of the blister; this is best done by applying an antiseptic cream. If there is immense pain, it is better to use an ice pack on the area, at the same time making sure to wash the area a few times daily to prevent infection by bacteria and other irritants.
In case the blood blister gets worse, it is best to seek the advice and help of a medical professional, for blood blisters could be an important symptom of any other serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention.
It is however much better to avoid blood blisters on the feet and also decrease the incidence of pain and infection. You could accomplish this with keeping your feet dry and making sure to wear shoes that fit well, with also making sure to use foot powder and change your socks regularly. However puncturing the blister with a sterilized needle helps; a doctor is the best person to do it. This may help to slowly drain the blister by applying pressure that could help prevent infection and prolonged pain.
However this can only be accomplished with applying an antibiotic and covering the blistered area with band-aid or gauze. A ruptured affected area requires cutting off the skin and giving an antiseptic treatment with rubbing alcohol or an antiseptic.
Allow the new skin to harden in the open air. This helps healing, with application of alcohol helping to further toughen the skin. Keep the skin clean, it aids in prevention of infection.
Knowing all about how to treat blood blisters on feet helps prevent pain and infection.