Blisters

Also called: Bulla, Vesicle

What are blisters?

Blisters are fluid-filled sacs on the outer layer of your skin. They form because of rubbing, heat, or diseases of the skin. They are most common on your hands and feet.

Other names for blisters are vesicles (usually for smaller blisters) and bulla (for larger blisters).

How do you get blisters?

Blisters often happen when there is friction - rubbing or pressure - on one spot. For example, if your shoes don't fit quite right and they keep rubbing part of your foot. Or if you don't wear gloves when you rake leaves and the handle keeps rubbing against your hand. Other causes of blisters include

What are the treatments for blisters?

Blisters will usually heal on their own. The skin over the blister helps keep out infections. You can put a bandage on the blister to keep it clean. Make sure that there is no more rubbing or friction on the blister.

You should contact your health care provider if

  • The blister looks infected - if it is draining pus, or the area around the blister is red, swollen, warm, or very painful
  • You have a fever
  • You have several blisters, especially if you cannot figure out what is causing them
  • You have health problems such as circulation problems or diabetes

Normally you don't want to drain a blister, because of the risk of infection. But if a blister is large, painful, or looks like it will pop on its own, you can drain the fluid.

How can I prevent blisters?

There are some things you can do to prevent friction blisters:

  • Make sure that your shoes fit properly
  • Always wear socks with your shoes, and make sure that the socks fit well. You may want to wear socks that are acrylic or nylon, so they keep moisture away from your feet.
  • Wear gloves or protective gear on your hands when you use any tools or sports equipment that cause friction.

Symptoms of Blisters

The following features are indicative of Blisters:
  • irritation

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Common Causes of Blisters

The following are the most common causes of Blisters:
  • intense rubbing
  • extreme temperature
  • chemical exposure
  • crushing or pinching
  • chickenpox
  • herpes

Other Causes of Blisters

The following are the less common causes of Blisters:
  • impetigo
  • dyshidrosis

Prevention of Blisters

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Blisters. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • reduce friction
  • make sure that shoes fit properly
  • always wear socks with shoes
  • wear protective gear or gloves on hands while using any tools or sports equipments

Occurrence of Blisters

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Blisters cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Not known

Common Age Group

Blisters most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Not known

Common Gender

Blisters most commonly occurs in the following gender:
  • Not known

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Blisters

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Blisters:
  • Direct immunofluorescence: To show tissue-bound autoantibodies in the skin
  • Serological tests: Screening test for circulating antibodies

Doctor for Diagnosis of Blisters

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Blisters:
  • Dermatologist

Complications of Blisters if untreated

It is not know if Blisters causes complications if left untreated.

Self-care for Blisters

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Blisters:
  • Use sunscreen: Wear sunscreen before going in sunlight
  • Wear gloves: Wear protective gloves when handling detergents, cleaning products, solvents and other chemicals helps in avoiding blisters

Patient Support for Treatment of Blisters

The following actions may help Blisters patients:
  • Joining a support group: Meeting people who are facing the similar challenges encourage the affected person

Time for Treatment of Blisters

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Blisters to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • In 1 - 3 months

Is Blisters Infectious?

Yes, Blisters is known to be infectious.

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Blisters.

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