Help - blisters on feet. To pop or not to pop?

[Xiaoxiong]

I get bad pompholyx eczema on my feet, but when stress and hot weather hit simultaneously it can get pretty horrendous. I had a feeling it might be flaring but daily applications of steroid cream and emollients did nothing to prevent it.

In addition to the usual blanket of small blisters, I've now had two interlocking blisters on the side of the ball of my foot and arch for over a week. They are the size of a £1 coin, and at least half a cm high and growing daily. It's getting so painful if I brush against something it makes my eyes water and I see stars and feel sick (have been taking paracetamol, they don't touch it). I can only wear one pair of sandals and they're not work-appropriate (and I'm hobbling even in those). My ankle is starting to hurt badly now as I have been walking on the outside of my foot to favour the blisters.

Everything I've ever seen says NOT to pop blisters on feet but it's been over a week, they are growing not shrinking and starting to seriously limit me I'd be really worried they'd get infected though as they're on my feet and would rub against shoes and plasters tend to rub straight off.

In case it makes any difference - the blisters appear to be many many tiny blisters inside so I don't even know if I could try and drain it even if I tried. Hopefully the little blisters inside the big blister will show up on the photo.

Help! To pop or not? And if so, how should I do it to prevent infection?

[bastardkitty]

I would pop with a sterilized needle and dab on neat tea tree oil. It's really horrible OP - poor you!

[Xiaoxiong]

Urgh just looking at all that nasty dry dead skin in the picture makes me feel ill, I usually take really good care of my feet to try and prevent eczema and I haven't been able to properly wash or even touch them with this flare up, it's too painful to pull any part of my skin as it tugs the edge of the blisters.

[Knittedfairies]

That looks sore! Would a podiatrist be able to help, d’you think?

[bluerunningshoes]

can your skin tolerate blister plasters?
those gel thingies?

[Xiaoxiong]

blue Yes I had the same thought, and had one on most of last week until it just got too painful as they got bigger. It didn't seem to be drawing anything out. But maybe if I drain it I can put one on top to prevent infection

[Xiaoxiong]

Knitted I don't know, I guess I don't know if I have a skin problem or a foot problem so whether to see a dermatologist or a podiatrist first...

Thanks for the sympathy everyone DH is 9 time zones away for the week leaving me flying solo with kids, work and dog (possibly not un-connected with stress flare of eczema...)

[NotARegularPenguin]

Ok, what I do for blisters is the following.

I sterilise a sewing needle and thread it with cotton. I pass the needle just under the surface of the blister and through the length of the blister and outbthe other side. I leave the cotton in the blister and take the cotton off the needle. Trim the cotton so a bit hangs out either end.

It allows the blister to drain but keeps the skin intact. Works very well for me.

[Xiaoxiong]

Bastardkitty so sterilised needle - and then a cotton pad with tea tree on top? I honestly have no idea what I'm doing

[Griefbacon]

I’d pop and over with a Compeed

[NotARegularPenguin]

You can leave the cotton in for a few days.

[bastardkitty]

I just drop the neat tea tree oil on but a pad could work too.

[Xiaoxiong]

Fucking hell penguin you must be hard as nails total awe and respect.

I will have a swig of and see if some Dutch courage materialises to do that...

[FermatsTheorem]

I was about to suggest the cotton trick, but Penguins beat me to it. I find it drains the blisters nicely by wicking the fluid away, and can even (if you catch them early enough) allow the skin to stick back on to the layer underneath.

However (and this is a big however) I don't have any issues with things like eczema - so in your position I'd talk to a podiatrist first (don't want to responsible for you getting badly infected feet which won't heal).

[SheepAreSuper]

I'd pop with a sterilised needle then cover with a non stick dressing taped really firmly in place.
If it's like the pompholyx I get on my hands the little blisters are in the top layer of skin with a bigger blister formed underneath.

[CoffeeIsNotEnough]

But these are not normal blisters - they are pomphlox bastards!
I've popped and regretted but never had any that bad.
Not helpful, sorry .

[NotARegularPenguin]

It sounds worse than it is. I’m actually a total baby.

[bastardkitty]

I've always popped them. Never had an infection. If you don't pop them, they hurt and they get bigger.

[Chuffles]

I've had the same thing. This one was about 3 months ago - very painful. Looked like yours initially but became increasingly dark and blood-filled. I didn't dare try to drain it, just kept it covered with a dressing soaked in dettol. But it was still tights & Chelsea boots weather so easier to keep in place than with sandals I expect. It 'popped' by itself after a couple of weeks. The relief was immediate! Soaked the foot of my tights but thankfully I had a spare pair in case of that eventuality. Healed very quickly afterwards which I'm not sure it would if I'd attacked it myself. If you see a podiatrist, i'd be interested to know what causes them - this was the 2nd one I've had on the same foot

[Xiaoxiong]

Ahh see this is my problem, this is so different from blisters from running or high heels - I just don't know what to do with these ones as they get bigger for no apparent reason and worry they're just going to keep filling up. And yes sheep I think it's two layers of blisters as the surface of the blister looks like it's got loads of little circles like a honeycomb.

Ok I will have one more stiff drink and see if I can muster the courage to have a stab, otherwise it's dermatologist in the morning I guess.

[Xiaoxiong]

Thank you all for your advice and hand holding, I managed it - washed everything with Hibiscrub, gritted my teeth and lanced four separate blisters an absolute river of clear yellowy fluid (plasma?) came out. There are still more blisters and the whole area is still really sore, but at least the pressure of the really big ones is relieved and a compeed plaster on top.

I will definitely remember the cotton trick but I don't think it would have worked with these as there were so many interlocking chambers of blister, there would have been a positive spiderweb of cotton threads!

I think I will call a dermatologist in the morning though, there must be some way to prevent this grimness recurring.

Thank you all again

[Xiaoxiong]

Well like a bad dream they've all filled up again overnight!! So to the GP today for a derm referral. At least I got some sleep while the pressure was off for a while following my brave lancing.

[NotARegularPenguin]

Maybe try the cotton trick as it keeps it open and any liquid will wick out through the cotton?

But yes a derm referral sounds necessary, any idea how long it will take though?

[Xiaoxiong]

I saw the GP, he read me the riot act about lancing them I said I knew I was risking an infection but it was that or not sleeping because of the pain and I'd do it again and folded my arms defiantly. He rolled his eyes and said "well, if you must, just keep it clean". I didn't dare ask him about the cotton trick

He said absolutely no plasters though, better to wear a 100% cotton sock on top because plasters will exacerbate the eczema. Socks and sandals... lovely.

Gone up to the next level of steroid cream (so have now moved through hydrocortisone, Eumovate, Betnovate, and now on to try mometasone) and if that hasn't worked in a week then on to a dermatologist...probably a long wait for the NHS ones penguin so I will go private if this mometasone doesn't work.

I'm taking it as permission to keep my feet up and keep working from home though!!

[CoffeeIsNotEnough]

Sorry it didn't go well. Enjoy the socks and sandals .

[bluerunningshoes]

I hope your skin recovers quickly.
my hands have just broken out and it's sooooooooko itchy