If a blister appears infected, clean it gently with antibacterial soap and water. Then apply an over-the-counter (OTC) hypochlorous acid (HOCI) spray, which is an antimicrobial skin-care product that contains a substance made by the body’s white blood cells to help further disinfect the area. Pat the area dry with a clean towel, recommends Kseniya Kobets, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care Westchester in Elmsford, New York. Finally, apply an OTC bacitracin ointment (used to prevent skin infections) to the blister and cover loosely with a bandage, suggests Dr. Kobets.
If the infection appears worse the following day, call your primary care physician or dermatologist to request an urgent appointment, says Lauren Ploch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Augusta, Georgia. “If they are unable to grant that request, a visit to urgent care may be needed,” she says.
“If the blister is the result of an infection, the fluid can potentially spread the infectious agent to other areas of the skin,” Dr. Ploch says. This is why you should keep a blister cleaned and covered if you suspect it to be infected. Additionally, avoid sharing hygiene items like towels and soap with other people, as doing so can also spread an infection, Dr. Campbell says.
