Top 8 Essential Oils for Blisters

Blisters can be irritating, uncomfortable, and painful—especially if you get them on your hands or feet.

With any blister, your goals are: #1 – getting rid of it as quickly as possible, and #2 –keeping it from getting infected! Can this be done naturally with essential oils? Read more to find out, and learn about the top 8 essential oils for blisters.

Are there different types of blisters?

Yes. The main different types of blisters are each named and caused by:

• Friction (friction blisters)
• Heat or burns (burn blisters)
• Moisture (moisture blisters)

How are blisters cared for?

Most blisters are only minor issues and can be safely helped by simple remedies at home. The most common home care includes antiseptic or antibiotic topical medicines, such as ointments or balms.

Topical astringents and emollients, like aloe vera and witch hazel respectively, are sometimes used to help speed healing. Astringents may also help shrink a blister without bursting it, preventing pain and infection. Emollients may help with inflammation and pain from burn blisters, for example.¹

Can all types of blisters be helped with essential oils?

The answer is also yes. Unless the blister becomes seriously infected, carefully prepared essential oil remedies can be just as helpful and effective as typical approaches—especially when high-quality oils are used safely and correctly. Some studies suggest essential oils are better options in some cases, too.

Top essential oils for blisters

The best essential oils for blisters have the same properties as commonplace non-natural remedies. The botanicals in these tend to be antiseptic, antibiotic, or antimicrobial in some way. This is to help clean the wound, prevent infection, or speed healing. Some of these may also have astringent properties to help dry or shrink a pricked and drained blister, for example.

1. Calendula

This yellow flower is famous for skin- and wound-healing properties: including for inflamed skin, blisters, and burns. It can help reduce healing time, relieve pain, and do some extra work preventing infection, too.

A systematic review of calendula showed that it could shrink ulcers and prevent skin damage from burns. Both are wounds that are very similar to some types of blisters, especially burn blisters.²

2. Chamomile

Much like calendula, its close relative, chamomile is well-known for healing wounds and skin issues. Chamomile is also very gentle topically: it may reduce pain, inflammation, and itchy skin along with giving mild antimicrobial action.

One study showed that a chamomile ointment was better at speeding healing and preventing infection compared to an antibiotic tetracycline ointment.³

3. Eucalyptus

For some of the best natural cleansing properties, eucalyptus is a top choice for blisters. The essential oil is highly antimicrobial and may also help cut down on healing time, while getting rid of your blister faster.

A study on eucalyptus used for burns on animals showed that it noticeably sped up wound healing. It also helped reduce infection and inflammation, suggesting it could be beneficial for burn blisters and other blister types.⁴

4. Oak

Because of its astringent properties, oak has long been a traditional topical remedy—including for wound healing, skin issues, burns, and blisters. A study of topical oak ointment for wounds showed that it sped up healing and boosted skin-protective properties while soothing pain and inflammation.⁵

5. Rose

Rosewater and similar natural rose preparations are widely used for softening and healing skin. These same properties may help with blister healing, too: in a study of rose oil made from rosehips, its use helped speed cellular healing in wounds while reducing the visibility of the wound scars.⁶

6. Sage

Common garden sage is a natural antimicrobial and astringent remedy. This could help prevent the infection of blisters, and possibly help dry and shrink them, too. One study of sage showed that it helped speed the healing of topical wounds which could easily apply to blister healing as well.⁷

7. Tea tree

Tea tree essential oil may be one of the most powerfully cleansing natural remedies—especially for wounds and topical skincare. Can its properties apply to blister healing as well? Studies suggest yes.

Some research on tea tree used in topical wound care showed great results: it helped reduce inflammation and had antimicrobial and antibiotic effects, helping protect against infection.⁸

8. Yarrow

A lesser known yet still powerful essential oil, yarrow is famous in the herbal world for exceptional wound-healing. Its trademark property is being able to stop bleeding; for blisters, it may speed skin healing while astringently tightening skin and shrinking blisters away.

Research on yarrow demonstrated that it could also kill infection-causing bacteria while speeding up wound healing. This would no doubt bring benefits for blister healing, too.⁹

How to use essential oils for blisters

To use essential oils for blisters, take your chosen essential oil—or essential oil blend—and dilute around 2-3 drops with a cup of clean water. Dab this onto a clean cloth, cotton swab, or cotton ball and apply lightly to your blister.

For best results do this at least once per day—though two or three times per day is recommended. Adhere to other health professional advice for blister first aid during the process: such as keeping bandages on the blister between cleanings, draining blisters safely with a sterilized needle, or removing loose popped blister skin gently when the time is ready.¹

DIY essential oil blends for blisters

Each of these blends can bring a specific helpful angle to blister care. Each combination also has basic antimicrobial and wound healing properties to help cleanse and prevent infection— though some are more antimicrobial than others.

Burn blister blend

For helping with burning pain, inflammation, or itchiness associated with burn blisters—or any blister type. Combine equal number drops or amounts of calendula, chamomile, and rose essential oils.

Blister-shrinking blend

For helping “dry out” or shrink blisters without popping them—or, speed healing and drying of drained blister. It also fights infection. Combine equal number drops or amounts of oak, sage, and yarrow essential oils.

Extra-cleansing blend

For focusing foremost on cleansing blisters and preventing infection while speeding healing. Combine equal number drops or amounts of eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils.

Other tips for dealing with blisters

Some other tips for helping heal blisters at home include:

• Use over-the-counter or prescription topical ointments
• Apply witch hazel or astringent for shrinking and cleansing
• Apply aloe for helping with pain, itching, or discomfort
• Use a simple antiseptic bandage on the blister to speed healing
  
  

If essential oils for blisters and other natural remedies aren’t helping, stop using them immediately and contact your doctor or health professional. This is especially important if your blister is also getting infected or worsening in some other way.¹

About Adrian White
Adrian White is a certified herbalist, organic farmer, and health, food, and agriculture freelance writer—and upcoming author. She is a past contributor to Healthline with bylines in The Guardian, Civil Eats, and Good Housekeeping. Adrian is also the co-owner and operator of Jupiter Ridge LLC, an organic farm growing diverse vegetables, mushrooms and herbs.

Sources

1. “Blisters: First Aid.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). MayoClinic.org.

2. Givol, O., R. Kornhaber, et. al. “A systematic review of Calendula officinalis extract for wound healing.” Wound Repair and Regeneration 27, No. 5 (2019): 548-561.

3. Kazemian, H., G. Sobhan,  et. al. “In vivo Antibacterial and Wound Healing Activities of Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).” Infections Disorders – Drug Targets 18, No. 1 (2018): 41-45(5).

4. Mohammed, H.A., S.A.A. Mohammed, et al. “Topical Eucalyptol Ointment Accelerates Wound Healing and Exerts Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Rats’ Skin Burn Model.” Essential Oils and Natural Products 71, No. 12 (2022): 1777-1788.

5. Uyar, A., G.M. Jhangier, et. al. “The effects of Quercus (Oak) acorn on cutaneous wound healing in rats.” International Journal of Plant Based Pharmaceuticals 3 No. 2 (2023): 148-155.

6. Lei, Z., Z. Cao, et. al. “Rosehip Oil Promotes Excisional Wound Healing by Accelerating the Phenotypic Transition of Macrophages.” Planta Medica 85 No. 07 (2019): 563-569.

7. Karimzadeh, S., & M.R. Farahpour. “Topical application of Salvia officinalis hydroethanolic leaf extract improves wound healing process.” Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 55 No. 2 (2017): 98-106.

8. Abdellatif, M.M., Y.E. Elakkad,et. al. “Formulation and characterization of propolis and tea tree oil nanoemulsion loaded with clindamycin hydrochloride for wound healing: In-vitro and in-vivo wound healing assessment.” Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal 29 No. 11 (2021): 1238-1249.

9. Ghasemi, M.R., A. Ranjbar, et. al. “In vitro Antibacterial Activity and Wound Healing Effects of Achillea millefolium Essential Oil in Rat.” Journal of Pharmacopuncture 26 No. 2 (2023): 167-174.

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