From the August 2004 issue of Runner's World
Pop Culture
Super-sized blisters are beyond help--from products, anyway. If a blister is large enough that you can see the fluid inside, it's better to drain it. Otherwise, you risk a painful pop midrun. Here, podiatrist Steven Chatlin, D.P.M, explains how to safely drain a doozy.
1. Sterilize a needle by rinsing it in rubbing alcohol or putting the point in a flame until it's red-hot.
2. Wash the blistered area with soap and water. Make a small hole in the blister and squeeze out the clear fluid.
3. Do not remove the skin over a broken blister; the new skin underneath needs this protective cover.
4. Apply hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection and wrap the area with antibiotic ointment and a sterile bandage.
* If the blister swells, reddens, or discharges thick yellow/green fluid, it may be infected; see your doctor.
