How to get rid of a blood blister

Published: November 2024

Blood blisters are different from typical blisters you might find in other areas of the body and are usually filled with a dark fluid. Although they can cause itching and be painful, blood blisters are mainly harmless.

Like normal blisters, blood blisters are raised pockets of fluid under the skin’s surface which can range in size. However, instead of being filled with clear fluid like normal blisters, they contain a mixture of clear fluid and blood. As they are filled with blood, they usually appear to be red, purple or black. Sometimes, they can start as a light red colour and darken over time.  

Blood blisters form when the skin experiences friction or is pinched in such a way that blood vessels near the skin’s surface are broken, but the skin’s surface remains intact. They usually appear on parts of the body that experience pressure, although sometimes they can also appear in the mouth. Blood blisters on the mouth are a sign of underlying health issues and should be checked by a medical professional.

Less commonly, blood blisters can also appear if you are taking blood-thinning medication. 

Blood blisters on the toes, heels and balls of the foot are particularly common and can appear due to several reasons, mainly related to the pressure our feet experience: 

• Friction: Poorly fitting shoes that rub against the skin and activities like walking, running or hiking can cause repetitive friction. Sweat can also make friction worse. 
• Trauma: Pinching the skin or stubbing your toe can cause blood vessels to break and form a blood blister where the injury happened. 

While not as common as blood blisters on the feet, blood blisters on the hands, especially the fingers, can and do happen often. They mainly occur due to: 

• Trauma: Just like stubbing your toe, slamming your finger with a hammer or a closing door on it can cause blood blisters. 
• Lifting heavy objects: Manual labour, or weightlifting in the gym, can create friction, which, in turn, creates blood blisters. 

Less commonly, blood blisters on the skin can be caused by more serious conditions which require medical attention: 

• Severe frostbite 
• Diabetes 
• Kidney failure 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 

Blood blisters on the skin usually heal on their own as new skin grows beneath the raised surface of the blister, and the blood inside the blister dries out. Follow the steps below to get rid of a blood blister and treat it at home:

• After washing your hands, wash the blister gently with mild soap and water
• Apply an antibacterial cream or ointment
• Protect the blister with a bandage or blister plaster. We recommend using the Elastoplast Blister Plaster for blood blisters on the feet to immediately relieve pain and seal the affected area safely against dirt and bacteria. Created with hydrocolloid technology, these plasters absorb the fluid inside the blister and create a moist wound-healing environment to help promote and speed up the healing process while reducing scarring. 

While it may be tempting to drain your blood blister, popping blisters can do more harm than good as the skin on top of it protects it from bacteria and infection. 

If your blood blister is particularly large and the pressure is becoming painful, get in touch with a medical professional for advice on how to safely drain it. 

Blood blisters can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks depending on size and whether it has received care or is still exposed to whatever caused it. 

Since blood blisters are usually caused by some sort of friction or pinching, particularly on the hands and feet, here are some steps you can take to prevent them: 

• Wear personal protective equipment when using tools that can pinch the skin 
• Wear personal protective equipment when weightlifting or doing heavy manual labour 
• Add padding or insoles to your shoes if you are feeling pressure 
• Wear appropriate footwear for physical activities 

Although blood blisters usually go away by themselves, there are some cases where medical help may be needed. You should see a doctor if: 

• the blister repeatedly returns 
• there is no apparent reason for the blister to have formed 
• the blister is caused by an allergic reaction 
• multiple unexplained blisters have formed 
• there are symptoms of infection, such as red lines or warmth spreading from the blister 
• blisters have formed in the mouth or eyelids