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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Home Skin. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of a blister Causes of blisters Self-help for blisters When to seek medical attention for a blister Treatment for blisters Prevention of blisters Where to get help.
Symptoms of a blister Blister symptoms include: a reddened and tender patch of skin a raised lump filled with clear fluid or, sometimes, blood. Causes of blisters Some common causes of blisters include: ill-fitting shoes friction for example, using a shovel all day without gloves can cause blisters on the palms of the hands scalds or burns severe sunburn allergic reaction to irritants viral skin infection such as herpes or warts fungal skin infection such as tinea on the soles of the feet or between the toes.
Self-help for blisters Blisters rarely need medical attention, unless they are severe, recurrent, caused by burns or are due to an underlying infection.
Other suggestions for treating a simple friction blister include: If the blister has burst, don't peel off the baggy skin pocket — let your body heal the area in its own way and in its own time. Apply antiseptic and a dressing or sticking plaster to the area to protect it and keep it free from dirt or irritants. Don't use tape alone for the dressing, as removing the tape may rip the roof skin off the blister.
Change the dressing daily and re-apply antiseptic. Avoid 'folk remedies' like applying butter or vinegar. These don't work. When to seek medical attention for a blister See your doctor or other health professional for treatment if: the blister is caused by a burn, scald or severe sunburn the blister starts weeping pus yellow or green, sometimes smelly, fluid the area becomes increasingly swollen or inflamed you suspect the blister is infected you develop multiple blisters without any preceding skin injury.
Treatment for blisters If your blister requires treatment by a health professional, this may include depending on the cause of the blister : sterile drainage of fluid from the blister professional dressing or padding techniques antibiotics, in the case of a bacterial infection antifungal preparations, in the case of a fungal infection antiviral preparations, in the case of a viral infection treatment for any underlying allergy.
Prevention of blisters Blister prevention strategies include: Wear properly fitted shoes. These are soft pockets filled with clear fluid that form when the top layer of skin gets irritated and damaged, like when you wear ill-fitting shoes for too long. After a few days, the fluid drains on its own and the blistered skin peels away. These are friction blisters taken to the next level.
Blood blisters are usually more painful too. Minor burns, including sunburns, can cause blisters. These blisters are filled with fluid and usually accompanied by red, painful skin. Like friction blisters, blisters caused by minor burns will heal on their own if you let them. Contact dermatitis — a reaction that happens when your skin comes in contact with an allergen or irritant — can cause allergy blisters. These blisters are a little different from the rest. Caused by bacteria or viruses, they can vary in size and shape and might be crusty or pus-filled.
Cold sores, which can form around your mouth, are sometimes called fever blisters. Popping infected blisters will probably make the problem worse. For instance, you might end up spreading the germs from the blister to the surrounding skin. Wash your hands and the blister. Plain old soap and water is fine — just be sure to wash well. Rub the blister with iodine.
This will help get the area even cleaner to reduce the risk of infection. FYI, never rub iodine on an open or popped blister.
It should be used only on blisters that are fully closed. Sterilize your popping tool. A sharp needle — like a sewing needle or the needle end of a safety pin — is your best bet. Give the needle a good wipe with rubbing alcohol. Puncture the blister and let it drain. Make a bunch of small pops around the edge of the blister and let the fluid flow out, gently pressing on the area.
Try to keep the blister skin from tearing. Bandage it up. Whether it is safe or advisable to pop a blister depends on several factors, including what caused it. Friction, or rubbing, can irritate the skin and cause a blister. Ill-fitting or tight shoes, for example, can rub the skin for a prolonged period, resulting in a blister forming. This type of blister will usually heal on its own if a person keeps it clean and dry. Popping it will increase the likelihood of germs getting into the wound and causing an infection.
However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology AAD , it may be advisable to drain a friction blister that is large or very painful to ease the discomfort. Heat, electricity, and sunlight can burn the skin and lead to blistering.
Chemical burns can also cause blisters. Historically, doctors labeled burns as either first, second, or third degree. Now, they prefer to classify burns according to their depth. There are three main types of burn:. Most household burns and sunburns are either superficial burns or minor partial thickness burns. There may be a small amount of blistering, and the area will look red and a little swollen. It will also be painful. Read about treatments for burn blisters here.
Dyshidrotic eczema is a common form of eczema that can cause itchy, dry skin and small, deep-seated blisters on the hands or feet. These blisters are usually itchy and painful. Eczema is a long-term condition for which there is no cure, and the symptoms tend to come and go over time.
Blisters can appear during a flare-up of symptoms, which stress or a rise in temperature can trigger. These small blisters usually clear up in 2—3 weeks. They may burst on their own, but people should avoid popping them.
Certain viral infections can cause blisters. These include infections with the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles , and the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores or fever blisters.
Doctors will typically advise people to avoid scratching or breaking open chickenpox or shingles blisters as doing this can leave a scar. Instead, a person can try applying calamine lotion to the skin or adding baking soda or colloidal oatmeal to a cool bath to help reduce the itching. Cold sores usually appear close to the mouth, often on or next to the lips.
They may be in the form of a single blister or a cluster of blisters. Cold sore blisters will usually go away by themselves in a week or two. It is important to avoid popping, scratching, or touching these blisters as this can spread the virus to other areas of skin, causing further outbreaks. According to the AAD , a person can follow these steps to drain a blister properly:. Using rubbing alcohol to sterilize the needle does not always prevent infection.
People who are prone to getting infections may wish to ask a doctor to drain the blister for them in a more sterile environment.
If a person suspects that a blister has become infected, they should speak to a doctor.
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