Blisters

A blister is a thin-walled, fluid-filled bubble on your skin. Blisters can be caused by burns, allergic reactions, chemical irritation, or viral infections such as shingles, chickenpox, genital herpes. This article is about traumatic blisters that arise from injury to tissue. A traumatic blister begins as a "hot spot," an uncomfortable area on your skin that feels like it is being (and typically has been) rubbed too much. If ignored, the hot spot will develop into a blister.

Causes

The most common cause of traumatic blisters is friction or pressure combined with a moderate amount of moisture. Wearing shoes without socks or wearing shoes that are too tight can lead to blisters. You may develop a blister on your palms and fingers if you are doing work you are not accustomed to that causes rubbing that causes rubbing.

Self-Care Steps for Blisters

• Friction blisters are best left unbroken if skin irritation can be avoided until the fluid disappears, the intact skin will protect from infection. If the blister is swollen and painful, fluid can be drained from it by cleaning the blister and surrounding area with alcohol then making small punctures in the blister with a sterile needle keeping the skin in tact.

• If the blister breaks open, treat it like an open wound. Wash it with soap and warm water. Apply an antibacterial ointment and cover it with a clean bandage. Watch for signs of infection, such as redness, pain, swelling, or red streaks leading toward the heart..

Preventive Care for Blisters

To keep common friction blisters from developing, wear work gloves when doing physical labor. To prevent blisters on your feet:

• Use foot powder.

• Wear a thin sock that wicks away moisture under a thick, moisture-absorbing sock.

• Wear shoes that fit properly.

• Hikers should wear good well fitting boots or shoes, thin moisture wicking inner socks and thick cushion-sole outer socks. Wearing two layers of socks may require a larger size of shoes or boots than you normally take. Change socks at least once a day. Moist feet get more blisters.

• Use moleskin (a soft material that prevents chafing, which you can purchase from a drugstore) on any hot spots that develop to prevent a blister from forming.