How do I treat a blood blister?

How to treat a blood blister?

• today i was playing basketball with some friends. i was playing barefoot on the concrete. my toe started to hurt but i ignored it and kept playing, till later i took a look and there was a huge blood blister on the bottom of my big toe. when i poked it, i saw the blood move around it was really gross... but now its just this big red blob on my toe and it hurts to walk... i don't want to pop or drain it because i don't want it getting infected. so how can i treat it so it heals?

• Answer:

  If it is causing pain, wash the area thoroughly, sterilize a needle with a match or lighter, swab the area and wipe the needle with an alcohol swab, and lance the blood blister to relieve the pressure and reduce the pain. It is best to do it sitting on the edge of the tub (facing inward) to contain the mess. After squeezing out the remaining blood and other fluids, wrap the toe somewhat tightly to keep any more fluid from coming to the wound, and change the bandage at least twice a day. The skin over the former blood blister will eventually peel off after about 3-4 weeks. Gingerly sand the remaining dead tissue smooth without touching the tender new tissue underneath. After a month and a-half, you should not be able to tell that you had one. If the above procedure sounds too scary, wrap the wound somewhat tightly for about 3-4 weeks, and the excess fluids will go away, while the trapped blood will dry out leaving a flat pocket of dead blood cells under the skin until the old skin sloughs off and the blackish-brown spot wears away. If you are planning on going barefoot in the next six weeks, go with the first option. PS, Don't play basketball or any other sport barefoot again. The bones in the ankle and foot are rather fragile (Phalanges, Tarsals, and Metatarsals) and not providing adequate support to the bones, ligaments, and tendons is asking for trouble.