Is it better to pierce your blisters or leave 'em closed?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
0
Originally posted by: Kirby64
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
I always pop them. There is nothing sicker than some dude with a giant whitehead on his nose that he refuses to pop.

Ok, first, blister =! whitehead

Second, how do you get a blister on your face? :confused:

I was wondering how long it would take some high school kid/college student to give me the "!=" treatment.

Only you did it wrong... "=!" means nothing.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
It depends on how big it is. Only drain it if the sucker is so big that it's going to catch/rub something and break itself. No matter what you do with it, pad and wrap it in some way (socks don't count, I mean gauze, bandaid, moleskin, etc). Some antibacterial cream can't hurt either. This coming from a boyscout (made it to Life, one rank below Eagle)

Personal experience/preference: If you drain it, don't wrap it immediately, I've found you need to wipe it off and let it air dry for a little bit, it helps the skin firm up a bit so it doesn't tear so easily.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Originally posted by: Kirby64
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
I always pop them. There is nothing sicker than some dude with a giant whitehead on his nose that he refuses to pop.

Ok, first, blister =! whitehead

Second, how do you get a blister on your face? :confused:

On his nose... hmmmm....
 

imported_Tick

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2005
4,682
1
0
Hrm. 3 of the blisters have popped themselves nicely and drained from the side. One blister, in the middle of my left thumb, has split down the middle. God Damn It.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Isn't there perfectly good skin right underneath a blister? It might be a little sensitive, but it's still skin.
If you really jam the needle in to the point that you feel pain, well then you've gone too far. Just puncture the layers holding the liquid in, and you should be fine.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
59
91
Originally posted by: Kirby64
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
I always pop them. There is nothing sicker than some dude with a giant whitehead on his nose that he refuses to pop.

Ok, first, blister =! whitehead

Second, how do you get a blister on your face? :confused:
Bobbing for french fries?
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Whenever I get blisters much of the pain is caused from the build up of fluid itself.

I don't always try to pop them, but I will certainly do so if it means instant relief.
 

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
i always use a needle and rubbing alcohol to release the fluid. if you don't then what usually happens is the skin rips off anyway which is even worse. plus letting out the fluid usually relieves the discomfort.
 

Philippine Mango

Diamond Member
Oct 29, 2004
5,594
0
0
Popem immediately so that they can heal, though if you're going to be going through the amazon jungle or some college bathroom, I'd say keep em closed.. While popping them will let them heal much faster, if you're going through a hazardous area, you may be better off NOT popping them..
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: kami333
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Originally posted by: dug777
If you pierce it, you can let it harden as a callus, rather than come off as a tender wussy spot ;)

Why risk infection for an old wives' tale.

No infection if you do it correctly. I used to do it all the time when I rowed. Pop it after practice with a pin, keep it dry during the day, by the next morning it would be hard and stuck back. Don't pop it and the next day you'd have an even larger blister.

:thumbsup:

Very rarely, those old wives tales actually work ;)