Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesWhy They HurtTreatmentPreventionRisksWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Why They Hurt
Treatment
Prevention
Risks
When to See a Provider
This article will explore what blisters are, what’s inside them, and how to help them heal.
Rupendra Singh Rawat / Getty Images
Causes of Blisters
When something irritates or injures the skin, it can cause a blister, also known as a vesicle. A common type of blister is a friction blister.
Friction blisters occur when something rubs the skin, such as tight shoes or a hand-held tool. They can develop if the pressure is repeated over time or if there is a short, intense pressure.
Friction blisters on the feet are very common, especially in people who walk or hike long distances, such as hikers or soldiers. Factors that cause friction blisters in feet include:
Other Types and Causes of BlistersOther than friction blisters, you may experience blisters due to the following causes:Heat, cold, or radiation injury to the skin, includingburns,sunburns, scalds, orfrostbite(after rewarming)Pinched skin, such as catching a finger in a drawerReactions to allergens such aspoison ivy or poison oakor chemical products like detergentInfections such asherpes, chickenpox,shingles,impetigo, orcellulitisSkin conditions such aseczema(atopic dermatitis)Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a reaction to medication or infection that can be life-threateningSome relatively rare autoimmune disorders, includingdermatitis herpetiformis, which affects adults with celiac disease, orbullous pemphigoid, which causes large blisters, often on the thighs or armpits.
Other Types and Causes of Blisters
Other than friction blisters, you may experience blisters due to the following causes:Heat, cold, or radiation injury to the skin, includingburns,sunburns, scalds, orfrostbite(after rewarming)Pinched skin, such as catching a finger in a drawerReactions to allergens such aspoison ivy or poison oakor chemical products like detergentInfections such asherpes, chickenpox,shingles,impetigo, orcellulitisSkin conditions such aseczema(atopic dermatitis)Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a reaction to medication or infection that can be life-threateningSome relatively rare autoimmune disorders, includingdermatitis herpetiformis, which affects adults with celiac disease, orbullous pemphigoid, which causes large blisters, often on the thighs or armpits.
Other than friction blisters, you may experience blisters due to the following causes:
Why Do Blisters on Feet Hurt?
Blisters on your feethurt because the epidermis (the top layer of the skin), which is less sensitive than underlying layers, has been damaged. The layer of skin underneath (the dermis) has more nerve endings, so when anything touches it, the blister fluid presses on the nerve endings.
Symptoms of Unopened (Bubble) Blister
A blister looks like a bubble on your skin. You may have one or many of them. The fluid inside can be clear liquid or blood.Blood blistersmay look reddish, black, or purple. Blisters are usually very tender to the touch, and pain is a primary symptom of a bubble blister.
Diabetic Blisters: A Symptom of Mismanaged Diabetes?
Symptoms of Open Blister
An open blister is one that has popped, further exposing the damaged area of skin. It may be very painful.
Infections can occur in open blisters. If you see pus, your skin feels warmer around the blister, or you see red lines in the skin around the blister, you could have aninfection. If you think you have an infected blister, see a healthcare provider.
Function of Blister Fluid
The clear liquid inside a friction blister is called serum. It is made of water, protein, and carbohydrates that leak from injured blood vessels. The serum has an important function because it cushions and protects the underlying tissue, allowing it to heal more quickly. The fluid will be reabsorbed as the skin heals.
Blisters that are filled with bloodform if your skin gets a severe pinch. The blood comes from vessels that were damaged in the injury and can have the same protective function as serum.
Sometimes, blisters can be filled with pus if they are infected.
Other Places on the Body That May Develop BlistersFriction blisters generally occur on areas with a thicker layer of the outer skin (stratum corneum), usually the palms, soles, or other areas of toughened skin.However, you can develop blisters from other causes almost anywhere on your body that is covered in skin. Certain health conditions can lead to blisters on particular parts of the body or over your whole body.
Other Places on the Body That May Develop Blisters
Friction blisters generally occur on areas with a thicker layer of the outer skin (stratum corneum), usually the palms, soles, or other areas of toughened skin.However, you can develop blisters from other causes almost anywhere on your body that is covered in skin. Certain health conditions can lead to blisters on particular parts of the body or over your whole body.
Friction blisters generally occur on areas with a thicker layer of the outer skin (stratum corneum), usually the palms, soles, or other areas of toughened skin.
However, you can develop blisters from other causes almost anywhere on your body that is covered in skin. Certain health conditions can lead to blisters on particular parts of the body or over your whole body.
Blister Treatment: What to Put on Skin
Blisters usually heal on their own, but you do want to avoid infection and minimize pressure on the blister to avoid pain.
Healthcare providers recommend youdo not pierce, pop, or “unroof” a blister, especially small blisters less than 5 millimeters in size.Doing so increases the risk of infection.Blisters typically heal within a week to 10 days.
Here’s how to treat a blister:
If choosing to self-treat, use a needle sterilized with rubbing alcohol to pierce one edge of the blister.Wash the area gently. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly (antibacterial ointment may also be considered for a drained or burst blister).Cover the drained blister with a bandage to protect it from further damage.
How to Avoid Blisters From Walking
Precautions you can take to avoid blisters on your feet from walking include:
Risks of Untreated Open Blisters
Infection is the primary risk for open blisters. If you see signs of infection, contact a healthcare provider for treatment. These signs and symptoms include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
In some cases, blisters can indicate conditions that need medical treatment. These include:
If you have diabetes or circulation problems, see a healthcare provider for any friction blister or other skin injury.
Summary
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS Inform.Blisters.Worthing RM, Percy RL, Joslin JD.Prevention of friction blisters in outdoor pursuits: a systematic review.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2):139-149. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.007Health Direct.Blisters.MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Dermatitis herpetiformis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bullous pemphigoid: an overview.Brennan F.Treatment and prevention of foot friction blisters.ACSM Health Fitness J. 2013;17(6):45-6. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a95110American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent and treat blisters.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blisters.Alberdi-Navarro J, García-García A, Cardona-Tortajada F, Gainza-Cirauqui ML, Aguirre-Urizar JM.Angina bullosa hemorrhagica, an uncommon oral disorder.J Clin Exp Dent. 2020;12(5):e509-e513. doi:10.4317/jced.56840.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS Inform.Blisters.Worthing RM, Percy RL, Joslin JD.Prevention of friction blisters in outdoor pursuits: a systematic review.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2):139-149. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.007Health Direct.Blisters.MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Dermatitis herpetiformis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bullous pemphigoid: an overview.Brennan F.Treatment and prevention of foot friction blisters.ACSM Health Fitness J. 2013;17(6):45-6. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a95110American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent and treat blisters.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blisters.Alberdi-Navarro J, García-García A, Cardona-Tortajada F, Gainza-Cirauqui ML, Aguirre-Urizar JM.Angina bullosa hemorrhagica, an uncommon oral disorder.J Clin Exp Dent. 2020;12(5):e509-e513. doi:10.4317/jced.56840.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NHS Inform.Blisters.Worthing RM, Percy RL, Joslin JD.Prevention of friction blisters in outdoor pursuits: a systematic review.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2):139-149. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.007Health Direct.Blisters.MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Dermatitis herpetiformis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bullous pemphigoid: an overview.Brennan F.Treatment and prevention of foot friction blisters.ACSM Health Fitness J. 2013;17(6):45-6. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a95110American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent and treat blisters.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blisters.Alberdi-Navarro J, García-García A, Cardona-Tortajada F, Gainza-Cirauqui ML, Aguirre-Urizar JM.Angina bullosa hemorrhagica, an uncommon oral disorder.J Clin Exp Dent. 2020;12(5):e509-e513. doi:10.4317/jced.56840.
NHS Inform.Blisters.
Worthing RM, Percy RL, Joslin JD.Prevention of friction blisters in outdoor pursuits: a systematic review.Wilderness Environ Med. 2017;28(2):139-149. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.03.007
Health Direct.Blisters.
MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bullous pemphigoid: an overview.
Brennan F.Treatment and prevention of foot friction blisters.ACSM Health Fitness J. 2013;17(6):45-6. doi:10.1249/FIT.0b013e3182a95110
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to prevent and treat blisters.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Blisters.
Alberdi-Navarro J, García-García A, Cardona-Tortajada F, Gainza-Cirauqui ML, Aguirre-Urizar JM.Angina bullosa hemorrhagica, an uncommon oral disorder.J Clin Exp Dent. 2020;12(5):e509-e513. doi:10.4317/jced.56840.
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