I'm not surprised that he still has fluid coming out. For at least two reasons: The first that all blisters vary, how deep, how much actual damage was done, you get the picture. The other is because the blister has been opened and kept sort of moist, so to speak. It hasn't begun drying out yet. As long as the fluid remains clear or even a bit cloudy but *not* yellow or any other 'icky' color it should be ok. I've had blisters I've had to open 2 or 3 times or more before they finally stopped producing fluid. Using a pin to create such a tiny hole in a blister allows the blister to close back up and continue to produce fluid. A blister is natures way of protecting/cushioning the tender flesh below the injury. Sometimes a slightly bigger outlet is needed. You'll know if the blister continues to close back up and refill. I've used a fingernail clipper to actually create a slightly bigger outlet with removing the skin or making too big of a hole. Of course, you'll want to sterilize the clippers first. A 15 minute soak in rubbing alcohol should do the trick. Before and after use. ETA: Use just the very corner at the edge of the clipper. After all, you want a *small* slice in the blister, not a gaping hole.

As to healing. The skin of the blister itself will sometimes attach back to the site of the blister. Sometimes not. Either way is fine as the the skin at the actual injury site will begin to regenerate almost right away. The blister, with or without the skin flap over it, will simply dry out and look almost like any other kind of blister that's healing. If there's any redness (redness, swelling and heat as well as drainage are all cardinal symptoms of not healing well or possible infection) that would most likely be the first or second sign that things are not well. Increased drainage with a change of color to the icky side, yellow etc and pus-like, is interchangeable as a first or second sign of not healing well or possible infections. Heat in the tissues along with any swelling is another good indicator. By the time you see red streaks it's been infected for a while and not good. So, so far it sounds as if Alan's blister is fine and you're doing exactly what you should!

And look at it this way...if you have serious worries you can always call Alan's doctor and describe the blister to him as well as what you're doing. He will be able to confirm that you're treating it just as it should be treated and maybe calm your worries a bit.

Barbara