Blisters

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).

What causes 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:

• Burns
• Sunburn
• Frostbite
• Eczema
• Allergic reactions
• Poison ivy, oak, and sumac
• Autoimmune diseases such as pemphigus
• Epidermolysis bullosa, an illness that causes the skin to be fragile
• Viral infections such as varicella zoster (which causes chickenpox and shingles) and herpes simplex (which causes cold sores)
• Skin infections including impetigo

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.

Can blisters be prevented?

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.

Questions for your care team

General prompts to help prepare for your appointment.

• How does this information apply to my situation?
• Which symptoms or results need evaluation?
• Which tests are useful, and what can they tell us?
• What care options, benefits, and risks should we discuss?
• When should I seek urgent help, and whom should I call?
• When is follow-up, and how will we know whether the plan is working?