WEBVTT - Should You Pop Blisters?

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeart Radio. Hey,

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<v Speaker 1>brain Stuff, learn vogal bomb here. This one's a little

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<v Speaker 1>gross or bodily frank anyway, but it's probably happened to

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<v Speaker 1>all of us. Work in the yard without gloves or

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<v Speaker 1>donne a stiff new pair of shoes, and you're likely

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<v Speaker 1>to wind up with an unwanted bodily edition a blister.

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<v Speaker 1>There are a bunch of ways that blisters are caused,

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<v Speaker 1>including friction when something repeatedly rubs up against the skin,

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<v Speaker 1>as well as allergies and exposure to heat, cold, or

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<v Speaker 1>irritating chemicals. Blisters are annoying and unsightly bubbles of clear,

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<v Speaker 1>watery fluid called serum. Ever wondered where all that fluid

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<v Speaker 1>comes from anyway? Oh, when the skin is injured, nearby

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<v Speaker 1>tissues react by leaking serum, which is intended to act

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<v Speaker 1>as a natural protection for the skin. So a blister

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<v Speaker 1>is technically part of your body's defense mechanism against damage,

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<v Speaker 1>and they might look tempting to pop up, But considering that,

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<v Speaker 1>is it a good idea to do it? For the article,

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<v Speaker 1>this episode is based on How Stuff Works. Spoke by

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<v Speaker 1>email with dermatologist Dr Aram Ilius, who's based near Philadelphia.

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<v Speaker 1>She says she gets that question from patients all the time.

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<v Speaker 1>Quote the answer overall is yes. It is reasonable to

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<v Speaker 1>pop a blister for one big reason. The soreness or

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<v Speaker 1>tenderness that comes from blisters is from the pressure of

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<v Speaker 1>the fluid in the blister. Until this pressure is released,

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<v Speaker 1>it will not have a chance to heal. Also, if

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<v Speaker 1>you don't pop the blister, it might burst on its

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<v Speaker 1>own anyway from day to day activities. She said. If

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<v Speaker 1>this happens in an uncontrolled setting, it may put you

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<v Speaker 1>at a higher risk for infection. So how do you

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<v Speaker 1>pop a blister? How stuff works? Also spoke by email

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<v Speaker 1>with Dr Peterson Pierre of the Pierre Skincare Institute in

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<v Speaker 1>Thousand Oaks, California. He walked us through a few simple

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<v Speaker 1>steps to achieve the safest outcome possible. First, wash the

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<v Speaker 1>affected area with soap and water. Then, using a sterilized needle,

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<v Speaker 1>safety PI or pair of medical scissors, gently poked the blister.

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<v Speaker 1>Most of the fluid should leak out easily. If it doesn't,

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<v Speaker 1>it's not ready to be popped. Next, apply soft pressure

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<v Speaker 1>to ensure that all of the serum is released. Finally,

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<v Speaker 1>dress the area with a pressure bandage to prevent fluid

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<v Speaker 1>from reaccumulating in the blister. This also protects the skin

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<v Speaker 1>and helps the area heal. Although some doctors recommend applying

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<v Speaker 1>antibiotic cream, Pierre says to steer clear quote in fact,

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<v Speaker 1>products like neosporin can irritate the area. Vasseline or aquifer

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<v Speaker 1>with the bandage is sufficient to provide an environment conducive

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<v Speaker 1>to rapid healing. It's important to note, though, that during

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<v Speaker 1>the popping process and in the delicate days after, you

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<v Speaker 1>shouldn't peel off the thin, outermost layer of skin that

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<v Speaker 1>remains the hostuff works. Also spoke by email with Beverly

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<v Speaker 1>Hills based dermatologist doctor Zebra Shanehouse with Skin Safe Dermatology

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<v Speaker 1>and Skincare. She said, when you release the fluid underneath,

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<v Speaker 1>the tense blister will def eight and the overlying blister

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<v Speaker 1>skin will fall like a parachute into the eroded skin

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<v Speaker 1>beneath and act as a natural bandage. A new epidurmal

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<v Speaker 1>layer will grow and fill in underneath. For those of

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<v Speaker 1>you not in the frame of mind to pop, she notes,

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<v Speaker 1>the blisters often resolve on their own, provided you prevent

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<v Speaker 1>further trauma to the area, a meaning, for instance, not

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<v Speaker 1>wearing the shoes that caused the blister until it's healed,

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<v Speaker 1>and being careful to pick shoes that won't irritate the

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<v Speaker 1>blister while it heals. Padded bandages or adhesive pads like

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<v Speaker 1>moleskin can help. Oh and another important note, This advice

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<v Speaker 1>about popping blisters only applies to situations where you know

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<v Speaker 1>what caused the blister in the first place. Hilius said,

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<v Speaker 1>if you're developing blisters and you don't know why, it's

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<v Speaker 1>important to see a dermatologist as there are a number

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<v Speaker 1>of blistering skin diseases that are autoimmune in origin that

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<v Speaker 1>may need to be managed with other medications to treat

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<v Speaker 1>and prevent. Today's episode is based on the article should

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<v Speaker 1>you Pop your Blisters? On house to works dot Com

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<v Speaker 1>written by aleioh Hoyt. Brain Stuff is production of I

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<v Speaker 1>Heart Radio in partnership with house toff works dot Com,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's produced by Tyler Clay. For more podcasts from

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<v Speaker 1>my heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

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<v Speaker 1>or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.