All That You Need To Know About Blisters On The Skin

What Are Blisters? 

The result is all too familiar which is a painful pocket of skin that’s filled with fluid whether your shoes are too tight or you touched a hot stove. If you see signs of infection, it’s time to call your doctor, whereas a single blister-like that is usually easy to treat at home. 

What Causes Blisters?

Friction

When something rubs against your skin like a tool handle or a new pair of shoes, you can get blisters. Friction blisters com from brief intense contact on a small area, unlike corns and calluses which show up after rubbing that’s gone on for a long time. 

Burns

Getting too close to a flame or stream, or in case you touch a hot surface, can get you blisters. Also causing blisters are severe sunburn. 

Cold

Causing blisters are extreme low temperature on your skin. If your doctor freezes off a wart, for instance, you might get one. 

Irritants or allergy triggers

If you come in contact with certain chemicals, cosmetics, and many plant allergens, your skin may blister. The doctor calls the problem irritant or allergic contact dermatitis 

Drug reactions 

A reaction to a drug you are taking may be the blisters sometimes.

Always let him know about any drug reactions you have had in the past when your doctor prescribes a new medicine. If you get a blister after taking a medication call your doctor. 

Autoimmune diseases 

Causing blisters are three diseases that curb the immune system which is your body’s defense against germs:

A possibly life-threatening skin disease-causing painful blisters in the mouth or skin is Pemphigus Vulgaris. After they burst, they become raw and crusted. 

Causing less severe blisters that heal faster and are not life-threatening is bullous pemphigoid. Found to be mostly happening in elderly people. 

Causing small, itchy blisters is dermatitis herpetiformis. Usually starting when you are a young adult, it is a long-term condition. This comes linked to gluten sensitivity. 

Infection

Here we find that blisters are a common symptom of conditions like chickenpox, cold sores, shingles, and a skin infection called impetigo.

Genes

Causing the skin to be fragile and to blister are some rare genetic diseases. 

How To Treat Your Blisters

It often gets better in 1 or 2 weeks if you leave the blister alone. Stay away from the activity that brought on the blister while it's healing. 

You can take some of these steps to help the healing process:

Putting on a loose bandage protects the blister while it heals 

Keeping it padded. You can stop it from getting worse by using padding underneath the bandage if your blister rubs against your shoe. 

Whereas there is no need to drain the blister but if it’s large and hurts a lot, you may want to. Use a small needle that you’ve sterilised with rubbing alcohol if you decide to do it. Thereby pierce the edge of the blister. Wash the spot with soap and water and cover with petroleum jelly afterward. 

When To Call Your Doctor

If your blister is infected, be on the lookout for signs. If it gets more painful call your doctor and if you notice the following too: 

Pus that’s leaking out

Swelling

Redness

What Are The Symptoms Of A Blister?

Ranging from pinpoint size to more than an inch in diameter, a blister is a bubble of skin filled with clear fluid. They come different from those pustules containing thicker, yellow-white material called pus. Blistering may be accompanied by pain, redness, or itching depending on the cause. 

Call Your Doctor About a Blister If:

If you have an autoimmune blistering disease, or if the blister was caused by contact with a chemical. If you have multiple blisters or in case they progress in number and location or if you can’t figure out why you are getting them, are the reasons to seek medical advice. 

What Are The Treatments For Blisters?

Not requiring a doctor’s care are most blisters caused by friction or minor burns. Here it is observed that underneath the affected area, the new skin is formed and the fluid is simply absorbed. Unless it is large, painful, or likely to be further irritated, do not puncture a blister. Preventing infection and promoting healing, the fluid-filled blister keeps the underlying skin clean. 

In case you need to pop a blister or it pops by itself:

A sterilised needle is used. Put the point or edge in a flame until its red hot or rinse it in alcohol to sterilise the needle. 

Make a small hole draining the fluid on its own after washing the hands and the area thoroughly. 

The blister may be infected and needs medical attention if the fluid is white or yellow. 

Over a broken blister, do not remove the skin. Needing this protective cover is the new skin underneath. 

Application of an antibiotic ointment or cream. 

Including pus drainage, red or warm skin surrounding the blister, or red streaks leading away from the blister look for signs of infection to develop.  

Concluding On How Can I Prevent Blisters?

Wearing work gloves. Great for raising a blister or two are the jobs you do occasionally such as shovelling snow or raking leaves. 

Wearing shoes that fit and are comfortable. Gradually the new shoes should be broken in. Where your foot is rubbing, wear padded socks, or put some adhesive padding.