Be Excellent To Each Other

Hi, sorry for the stupid thread. I don’t actually have a blister, but I damaged my thumb yesterday and took off all of the layers of skin to just leave the thinnest skin below. All the thick upper skin came off in a piece about the same size as a blister. I’m figuring it’s quite like a blister but doesn’t have the skin ‘flap’ to cover it. Sorry, I know it’s gross. I got Russell to clean it whilst I all at passed out in the kitchen, and covered it with a plaster. What’s the best way to treat it? I’ve taken the plaster off, rinsed it again and put one of those competed blister plasters on it. I know there are several runners here who may have had blisters before now, so with that in mind I was hoping that someone might have some recommendation of how to treat it.

I have some of that Germaline liquid skin stuff, but I don’t know if that’s the right course of action, and I’m worried that I’d punch Russell in the face, given how much it hurt when he was cleaning it with the antiseptic wipe.

Where abouts is it, Mimi? If it’s ‘covered’ and now cleaned I’d be tempted to let the air get to it. You’re going to say it’s on the sole of your foot though now...

It’s on my hand, on the crook of my thumb. If you pick up and hold anything, it’s the bit of your thumb that it touches. As the ‘flap’ of skin came off it’s is very raw and red and I’m worried about getting dirt on it because it’s where everything touches my hand.

I did it picking up a watering can, a seam where the plastic was moulded just caught my skin and ripped it all off.

Keep it covered if you're doing anything where foreign matter might get into it but let it breathe otherwise, it should form a scab to protect itself pretty quickly. Rinse with fresh water if you're worried something's got in.
Gauze and tape probably best.

I’ll do that. I think it’s probably best to keep it covered in the day as I’m right handed (where the wound is) and working all day in the garden/around the house/cooking and with Darwin I have to wash my hands frequently and I’m worried about dirt getting in. But at night I’ll see if I can bear to leave it uncovered. Part of the problem is every time I see it I feel nauseous and faint headed.

Sounds like you’re doing the right thing. When i have been rowing loads at the start of the season before my callouses have built up I get horrendous blisters. The best was after a 13 mile race when even with callouses each of my fingers looked like they had baked beans attacked to them in multiple places and taking a shower revealed blisters in areas I hadn’t realised. Ouch.

Let it breathe when you can but if you can’t just keep it covered with a plaster or something. The worst bit will have passed within 24-48 hours then you’ll be able to leave it uncovered.

I hope so. I just wish it had some skin covering it. Regular blisters I can deal with looking at but this has just really made me feel rough.

I’ve found a good half way solution. I’ve put a plaster over it but the gauze pad bit I’ve left in an arch ½ cm over the wound, like a little bridge, so I can’t see it but air can get to it.

This horrible raw stage will pass really quickly. I used to have to put plasters over them and then go rowing again the next day which was always brutal when salt water got on them but usually by the next night again they were feeling better.

That sounds awful. I don’t think I could have faced that. Thank you for the reassurance. I was worried it was going to be weeks before I could use basic tools. It really is in the worst imaginable place.

I take that back. I’ve just thought of worse places.

Wooden boat benches in a fixed seat boat over 13 miles and not discovering the full extent until you’re rinsing your shampoo off.

I’d go with this.
Keep it covered mostly for a few days. Change the dressing twice a day. I’d do antiseptic cleaning with each dressing, let it dry, then apply the highest quality Aloe Vera gel you can.
Let the air get to it toward the end of the week

I did something similar today, while painting the decking in the garden. There was a rough seam in the paintbrush which I didn’t pay much attention to until it took the skin off the top of my middle finger.