For an open blister, apply petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment, then cover it with a nonstick bandage. That combination keeps the raw skin moist, speeds healing, and blocks bacteria from getting in. Before you apply anything, though, you need to clean the area properly.
Clean the Blister First
Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the blister. Then gently wash the blister itself with soap and water, and pat the area dry with a clean towel. Once it’s clean, apply an antiseptic to the exposed skin. This step matters because an open blister is essentially a small wound, and any bacteria on your hands or the surrounding skin can easily reach the tender tissue underneath.
What to Apply on the Blister
You have two main options: petroleum jelly or antibiotic ointment. Both work by creating a moisture barrier over the raw skin, which prevents the wound from drying out and cracking. Dry wounds heal slower and hurt more, so keeping things moist is the priority.
Petroleum jelly is the simpler choice. It has no active ingredients that could cause a reaction, it’s cheap, and it’s effective at sealing moisture in. Antibiotic ointment adds a layer of bacterial protection on top of the moisture barrier. Either one is fine for a standard friction blister. If you have a known allergy to common antibiotic ointments, stick with petroleum jelly.
Apply a thin, even layer directly over the open area. You don’t need to glob it on. Just enough to coat the exposed skin.
How to Cover It
After applying your ointment, cover the blister with a nonstick bandage or gauze pad. Regular adhesive bandages work for small blisters, but make sure the pad portion (not the sticky part) sits over the wound. For larger blisters, cut a piece of nonstick gauze to size and secure it with medical tape.
Hydrocolloid bandages are another strong option, especially for blisters on your feet or hands where friction is hard to avoid. These bandages contain a gel-forming layer that absorbs fluid from the wound while maintaining a moist healing environment. The gel also prevents the bandage from sticking to the raw skin, so changing it doesn’t rip off new tissue. Hydrocolloid dressings seal the wound from dirt and bacteria, maintain a slightly acidic environment that discourages bacterial growth, and support the formation of new connective tissue underneath. They’re thicker than a standard bandage, which adds a cushioning effect.
If the blister is on the bottom of your foot or another pressure point, a doughnut-shaped moleskin pad can redirect pressure away from the wound. Cut a hole in the center of the pad large enough to surround the blister without touching it, then place it so the blister sits in the open center. Apply your bandage over the top.
Leave the Skin Flap in Place
If the blister’s top layer of skin is still partially attached, don’t peel it off. Smooth the flap of skin back over the tender area as gently as you can. That loose skin acts as a natural biological dressing, protecting the new skin forming underneath. Only remove the flap if you see pus beneath it or the area looks infected. Otherwise, it will dry out and peel away on its own as the new skin matures.
Changing the Bandage
Replace the bandage at least once a day, or sooner if it gets wet, dirty, or soaked through with fluid. Each time you change it, wash the area again with soap and water, reapply petroleum jelly or ointment, and put on a fresh bandage. The blister will likely ooze clear fluid for the first day or two. That’s normal wound drainage, not a sign of infection.
How Long Healing Takes
Most friction blisters heal on their own within a few days. A new layer of skin forms beneath the blister, and the damaged top layer eventually peels away. The timeline stretches to two weeks or longer if the area keeps getting rubbed or pressed. Blisters on your heels, toes, or palms tend to take longer for this reason, since those spots are hard to keep completely still.
During healing, try to reduce friction on the area as much as possible. Switch to different shoes, wear moisture-wicking socks, or use padding to protect the spot. Continued irritation doesn’t just slow healing; it can cause the blister to widen or deepen.
Signs of Infection
Watch for green or yellow pus filling the blister, warmth or heat radiating from the area, and increasing pain rather than decreasing pain over the first few days. The surrounding skin may turn red, though this can be harder to spot on darker skin tones. On brown or black skin, look for the area feeling noticeably warmer than the surrounding skin, along with swelling or pus. If the redness begins spreading outward from the blister in streaks, or you develop a fever, that suggests the infection is moving beyond the wound site and needs prompt medical attention.