What are blisters and how to treat them? Know today!

What are blisters?

Blisters are a skin condition that contains pus-like fluid-filled between the layers of the skin and blisters are painful and itchy. Blisters may be caused due to burning, friction, wearing tight footwear, chemical burns, and infection. Blisters can be easily treated at home. They are formed on the upper layer of the skin called the epidermis. Blisters may develop anywhere on the skin but mainly occur on the hands and feet. Blisters can be of different types depending upon the cause of damage to the skin.

Types of blisters

There are different types of blisters and a few of them are listed below:

Blood blisters
Friction blisters
Heat blisters
Chickenpox
Eczema blisters

What causes blisters?

There are many different kinds of blisters and the causes of it are described below:

1. Cause of Blood blisters:

This type of blister can be caused due to pinching of a substance or object to the skin which is a clear fluid with blood in it. The blood floods from broken blood vessels and damages the skin layers and this forms blisters.

2. Cause of friction blisters:

Friction blisters are caused due to rubbing or friction of skin to the objects like shoes that are tight-Wearing shoes without socks causes friction. You get blisters on your hands too if you hold any tool or things continuously can cause blisters. This type of blister usually goes away by itself and it can occur again and again while running, walking, etc.

3. Heat blisters:

Heat blisters can be caused due to sunburns or any heat burns. Heat blisters can be formed due to frostbite or exposure to sunburn.

4. Other skin conditions:

Many medical conditions also cause blisters such as chickenpox, herpes, eczema, dermatitis, etc. The chickenpox rashes too cause blisters filled with pus-like liquid in them. Eczema causes blisters as the skin gets cracked and flaky.

Blisters symptoms

Generally, blisters do not need any treatments as some blisters heal by themselves and disappear while some blisters like frostbite need treatments. But if you have the symptoms like yellowish or greenish pus-like discharge, redness, or pain near the blistered areas, then this is a sign of concern and it is necessary to consult a specialist or doctor when this symptom persists. Always see a doctor when you have red swollen skin and if the blisters do not go away by themselves.

Blisters treatment

Usually, blisters heal by themselves and do not require any treatments or diagnosis unless an infection occurs. The regeneration of the blister on the skin forms new skin naturally by the white fluid and will peel off the old skin thus creating a new one. You should not pop off blisters as that can lead to further infection.

The swollen part is the barrier to that blister; removing it can lead to bacterial invasion. So it's better to cover those blisters with a band-aid or protective layers. If the blisters get removed or burst by themselves, then let it drain the fluid naturally without irritating and thus clean the dead skin cells or that area with water and apply some dressing on that or apply some medicated ointments as it would further not irritate the skin.

Blood blisters also heal by themselves but they take time to heal them. Blisters can go away by themselves and also if you want to take some care of the skin, just wash the affected area with mild wash and apply an antibacterial cream or ointment if available at home. Then cover the area with a bandage or any covering thus protecting it from any further irritation. Remember to change the covering once in a while a day.

How can I prevent a blister?

You can prevent friction blisters by preventing the friction between your skin and the shoes or any object that your skin gets rubbed with. Wearing socks or avoiding tight wearing shoes will help get friction blisters on the feet. Wearing gloves on your hands would help you from getting blisters on the palm of your hands while doing labor work or any machinery tool work. You should tight-fitting clothes to get rid of the chaffing of skin with the clothes. In this way, you can prevent your skin from getting friction blisters.

Blood blisters usually occur due to pinching of the skin when your skin gets pinched by any object while closing the door the skin of the hand gets stuck to that door handle and you get blisters while using pruners or any tool, so be careful and start using loves while using the tools you use frequently.

To prevent heat blisters caused due to frostbite use proper clothing as per the weather or the environment. Use sunscreen when you go out under sun exposure and be alert or careful while handling the items that are hot.

Take Away

Blisters are usually painful and go away by themselves, some do not require treatment but extra care must be taken while handling the things or wearing suitable loose-fitting clothes and footwear. Thus prevention is better than cure and if the symptoms like pus and itchiness occur then treatment. If the blisters persist for more than a week and are causing discomfort then consult your health care provider immediately. And don’t touch them or poke them.

FAQs

What does a severe blister look like?

The severe blister looks like it's eating the skin, and it starts weeping pus and the area sometime become swollen too.

How long does it take blisters to heal?

Blisters usually take a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 7 days to heal, and these usually don’t require any medical attention.

Should you cover a blister or let it breathe?

You need to cover the blister and the area around it with a dry sterile dressing to protect it from infections.

References

13 causes of blisters. By Healthline, Apr 22, 2022.

Blisters' causes and treatment. By WebMD, Mar 22, 2021.

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