Preparing the wound for dressing
1. Cleaning the wound by flushing away any debris away with clean water or a mild dilution of hydrogen peroxide. Pouring or squirting the wound is fine, but any dirt particles sticking to the wound MUST be cleared away.
2. A topical antibiotic ointment, not cream, is gently applied after the blister wound is dry. The ointment serves two purposes: it reduces any risk of infection and it prevents any dressing material from inadvertently sticking to the wound.
Blister Dressing
A primary issue is getting whatever method of dressing that is to be used -- be it taping, Moleskin, hydrogel pads, bandaids, etc. --- to stick and remain in place, which can sometimes be a huge challenge.
Here are a few strategies to help.
1. Use hand sanitizer or alcohol to clean the skin area, not the wound, to which the tape or dressing will be stuck to. Get as much dirt and body oils removed as is possible.
2. To the cleansed skin, apply a thin smear of Tincture of Benzoin then allow to dry.
Do not put any directly on the wound. This will multiply the holding power of the adhesive that is used. If you aren’t familiar with it, think of it as rubber cement for the skin.
I carry a few crushable ampules of the stuff.
You can get them on Amazon or at a pharmacy
3. When the adhesive is finally applied, rub the area of the tape or moleskin or Compeed or etc... The idea is to create heat from the friction to allow the adhesive to warm and adhere better.
For a roofed or closed blister I like to place a hydrogel dressing, like
Spenco, to the top of the blister and them use Leukotape P or Omnifix or etc... to affix the dressing in place. The hydrogel provides basic cushioning and additional protection, helping the tape to reduce additional damage to the wound. If a hydrogel dressing is not readily available at a pharmacy, than a Compeed-style hydrocolloid patch could substitute.
For a de-roofed or open blister, the addition of the ointment to the open wound is applied prior to the hydrogel being put into place. The hydrogels are package and designed to be sterile. Bandaging is done as previously described.
Dealing with local discomfort while walking
If the blistered area, whether roofed or de-roofed, is so tender it is uncomfortable to walk on as treated above, then remove the dressing and then redress the blister the same way as before, but with the addition of using the 'doughnut' padding as the
NOLS video demonstrates.
Unless additional attention is needed, it is best to leave the dressing in place until the end of the day. Then, remove the dressing, re-cleanse the wound, shower, cleanse, apply ointment, and redress for evening activities. At bedtime, remove the dressing, re-cleanse and apply antibiotic ointment and wear a clean sock.